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Nation

Why court refused to stop Gachagua-allied MPs’ Gen Z protest probe

Embakasi North MP James Gakuya (right) and Embakasi Central MP Benjamin Gathiru at the DCI headquarters on July 31, 2024.The High Court has dismissed a petition by two political allies of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to stop police investigations into allegations that they planned, mobilised or financed the June 2024 Gen-Z protests.Justice Gregory Mutai ruled that MPs James Gakuya (Embakasi North) and Benjamin Gathiru alias Mejja Donk (Embakasi Central) failed to prove that the investigations violated their constitutional rights or that they had been unlawfully arrested or detained.The court also rejected their bid to block any future arrest or prosecution in relation to the said protests, saying they had not demonstrated abuse of investigative powers.“An apprehension of arrest, however sincerely held, is not evidence that an arrest would be unlawful,” Justice Mutai said.Also Read: Broad-based unity put to the test as parties flex muscle in Nairobi City politicsThe MPs moved to court after being summoned by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on July 31, 2024, over allegations linked to the anti-government protests.Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua (left) and Embakasi Central MP Benjamin Gathiru alias Major Donk attending a church service at PCEA Mwiki church in Kasarani on April 6, 2025.The DCI was investigating allegations that the MPs and other people had helped plan, mobilise or finance violent elements of the protests. The DCI later recommended charges against five people, including the two MPs.It proposed charges like conspiracy to commit a felony and directed a separate inquiry into money laundering and financial crimes.The petitioners had earlier secured temporary court protection following an order barring the DCI from arresting or detaining them over the allegations.The MPs said they were held for one day, interrogated under threats and faced possible arrest and prosecution. They relied on constitutional protections covering equality, security of the person, association and arrested persons.However, the court found that their evidence did not establish unlawful detention. It noted that Mr Gakuya’s affidavit said they were held incommunicado and interrogated under threats, but did not identify who threatened them, what was said or whether they were prevented from leaving.A police officer, Martin Munene, in a replying affidavit for the respondents, gave a different account. He said the MPs appeared at DCI offices with advocates, recorded statements voluntarily and attended on dates they had proposed.The MPs filed no further affidavit to rebut that evidence. Justice Mutai found their attendance consistent with compliance with the summons.Also Read: Nairobi MPs James Mwangi, Mejja Donk questioned over role in anti-government demos“The petition says that the petitioners honoured DCI summons and visited their premises. That is the language of voluntary attendance, not arrest,” he said.“There is no evidence that they were arrested, placed in cells, booked, or prevented from leaving,” the judge added.The MPs also complained about a second summons requiring them to appear on August 1, 2024. Justice Mutai said Section 52 of the National Police Service Act did not limit investigators to one interview where investigations remained active.“A second summons in an ongoing investigation is not on its own evidence of harassment, nor does the petitioners’ parliamentary schedule exempt them from lawful summons. The unchallenged evidence is that the Directorate allowed them to propose dates that did not interfere with their legislative work. This, in this court’s view, does not constitute harassment,” Justice Mutai said.The court said that their parliamentary schedule did not exempt them from lawful summons, while investigators had allowed them to propose dates that would not interfere with their legislative work.On equality, Justice Mutai found that the petitioners had not identified another person or class treated differently from them. They also failed to show that people suspected of similar conduct had been left alone.“Article 27 (1) of the Constitution guarantees equality before the law. It cannot be read as entitling holders of elective office to be excused from investigative processes that apply to every other person,” he said.The MPs raised parliamentary privilege in their submissions. Justice Mutai said the claim had not been properly pleaded and could not be introduced through submissions because respondents had no opportunity to answer it with evidence.“Parliamentary privilege does not shield a member from investigations of conduct outside parliament, such as the alleged planning or funding of violent protests,” Justice Mutai said.The court rejected the claim that the summons interfered with their freedom of association, finding no evidence that questioning prevented political party participation.The court said investigations into crime are a constitutional and statutory function of the National Police Service. Section 35 of the National Police Service Act gives the DCI responsibility for investigating serious crime, while Section 52 allows police to summon people believed to have relevant information.

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Kenyans.co.ke

Cabinet Clears Bill Proposing Ksh2 Million Fine for Fake Architects, Surveyors

The Cabinet has approved a Bill proposing tougher penalties for people who obtain professional registration or licences through fraudulent means, as part of efforts to improve construction standards in Kenya.The Architectural and Quantity Surveying Practitioners Bill, 2026, proposes a fine of up to Ksh2 million or imprisonment for up to two years for the offence.The Bill also proposes mandatory annual practising licences for architects, quantity surveyors, landscape architects, interior designers and construction project managers.In a dispatch on Friday, October 9, the Cabinet said the proposed law seeks to strengthen oversight of built-environment professionals and crack down on unqualified practitioners.“To strengthen building safety, Cabinet cleared the Architectural and Quantity Surveying Practitioners Bill, 2026, proposing tougher action against unqualified practitioners and penalties of up to Ksh2 million or two years in prison for false registration or licensing,” Cabinet said.A review by Kenyans.co.ke of the Bill’s tracker found a separate proposed penalty of up to Ksh3 million for practising without a valid licence. The two penalties relate to different offences and should not be conflated.The Bill, which is still before Parliament, seeks to replace the existing law dating back to 1934. The current law prescribes a maximum fine of Ksh5,000 for specified offences, including unlawfully using the protected titles of architect or quantity surveyor.In February 2023, Parliament reported deliberations on a proposed amendment seeking to increase the penalty for people falsely presenting themselves as architects or quantity surveyors to Ksh1 million, with possible imprisonment for up to two years.The proposed changes come amid concerns over building safety in Nairobi and other parts of the country.On January 9, 2026, the Institution of Engineers of Kenya (IEK) said inspections by the National Building Inspectorate covering about 15,000 buildings in Nairobi found that only 15 per cent were safe, while roughly 8 per cent were in fair condition. The remainder were classified as unsafe, according to then-IEK president Shammah Kiteme.The warning followed the January 2 collapse of Manzil Towers in Nairobi’s South C estate, which killed two people.The National Construction Authority said the building’s approved structural design provided for 12 storeys, but it had reached 14 before collapsing.In a separate case, an investigation into the April 2025 partial collapse of an 11-storey building in Mombasa identified alleged misuse of professional credentials by licensed architects and engineers, alongside design flaws, inadequate site investigations and poor professional supervision.The findings also pointed to weaknesses in inspections and regulatory oversight, raising questions about whether tougher penalties alone will be enough to improve construction safety.

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Nation

Ruto’s Sh56 claim, court battle and fresh protests: Inside Kenya’s tea bonus storm

President William Ruto’s claim that small-scale tea growers were earning an average of Sh56 per kilogramme of green leaf supplied to factories has sparked a storm in the sector, with farmers saying he was completely off the mark.This comes as the High Court in Nairobi gave small-scale tea growers in Nyamira and Kisii counties the go-ahead to initiate judicial review proceedings over the 2025/2026 second tea payment, popularly known as the bonus, citing alleged discrimination, irregular financial calculations and violations of the Tea Act, 2021.At the same time, tea growers in Nandi, Kericho, Bomet and Nakuru counties protested low bonus payments ranging from Sh12.50 to Sh22 per kilogramme, compared with Sh50 paid by factories in the larger Mt Kenya region.President Ruto announced on Thursday, during a town hall meeting at the ongoing Agriculture and Food Systems Transformation Summit in Nairobi, that reforms in the tea sector had raised farmers’ earnings to an average of Sh56 per kilogramme of green leaf across the country.“Three years ago, the prices were Sh34 per kilogramme, but the average prices now is Sh56,” Dr Ruto said, with the figures confirmed by Tea Board of Kenya Chief Executive Officer Willy Mutai.But Mr Joseph Rono, an agricultural expert and spokesperson for the Tea Small Scale Farmers Association, said the President should be properly briefed on the real situation in the tea industry to avoid embarrassing himself before farmers.President William Ruto during the Agriculture and Food Security Transformation Summit at the Jamhuri ASK Showground in Nairobi on Thursday, October 8, 2026.“The President might have meant well, depending on the brief that he has. But to tell farmers they are paid Sh56 on average when the actual payment is Sh26 per kilogramme and an average of Sh17 on second payment (bonus), bringing the total average to between Sh41 and Sh43 per kilogramme, is completely off the mark,” Mr Rono said.Mr Rono asked: “Where did the President get the additional Sh13 per kilogramme? And if indeed that is the situation, where is the difference? That amount does not hit our bank accounts and is not in the payment slips. Who pockets it?”Mr Alexander Rono, who supplies his produce to Tirgaga Tea Factory in Bomet County, confirmed that in April, the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) increased the price of green leaf per kilogramme to Sh26 from Sh23, which had prevailed for two years.“We are shocked that the President, without interrogating the figures, went public and made a statement that has made him look bad before the farmers. It is totally misleading to claim the prices have risen to Sh56 when the facts contradict his statement,” Mr Rono said.Mr Willy Mutai (left) the Tea Board of Kenya Chief Executive Officer and Dr Paul Ronoh, the Principal Secretary for Agriculture, confer during a meeting with farmers at Tirgaga tea factory in Bomet county on August 24, 2024. Farmers in the sector, which has 700,000 small-scale growers, have strongly disputed the President’s claim, saying it does not reflect the true situation on the ground.A spot check showed that most factories pay farmers between Sh22 and Sh26 per kilogramme of fresh leaf in the West of Rift, while those in the East of Rift pay an average of Sh30 per kilogramme.KTDA, which has a major stake in the industry, has been pushing factories to pay farmers at least Sh26 per kilogramme.The discrepancy in prices has been attributed to alleged differences in the quality of plucking, with the recommended two leaves and a bud. Farmers in the West of Rift are accused of not adhering to this standard, while those in the East of Rift are said to have embraced it.Low bonus payments for farmers in the West of Rift have triggered protests and legal action by small-scale tea growers, who are demanding better returns from an industry that is one of Kenya’s leading foreign exchange earners.The protesting farmers are seeking a halt to bonus payments and the adoption of a fair and equitable payment formula.The High Court in Milimani, Nairobi, has granted small-scale farmers in Nyamira and Kisii permission to initiate judicial review proceedings against the Tea Board of Kenya and other parties over low bonus payments.Justice Nabil Orina directed the farmers, represented by I.N. Nyaribo & Company Advocates, to file their substantive motion within seven days, with the respondents given 21 days to file their replies.“Leave is granted to commence judicial review proceedings as prayed. The substantive motion shall be filed in a separate substantive cause within seven days of these directions. The same shall be served upon the Respondents and Interested Parties within that period,” Justice Orina ordered.The respondents in the case are the Tea Board of Kenya, KTDA Management Services Ltd, the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development, and the Attorney-General. Jeremiah Migosi Nyaribari is the ex parte applicant. Sanganyi, Kebirigo and Tombe tea factories, as well as 68 small-scale tea farmers’ factories in Kenya, are listed as interested parties.

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Kenyans.co.ke

Ruto Orders Importation of Buffalos, More Camels as Milk Shortage Bites

President William Ruto has announced plans to introduce improved camel and buffalo breeds in Kenya as part of the government's strategy to address the problem of milk shortage.Speaking during the Agriculture and Food Security Summit at Jamhuri Park in Nairobi on Friday, October 9, Ruto said the government would diversify milk production by exploring alternative sources beyond usual dairy cattle.The President said he had directed Agriculture Principal Secretary Jonathan Mueke to facilitate the importation of improved camel breeds and buffaloes to increase the country's milk supply.While expressing interest in introducing buffaloes for dairy production in the country, he cited India as an example of a country where the animals are milked commercially.“I had directed the Agriculture PS to help us bring in a better breed of camel and bring another buffalo breed. Buffaloes also produce a lot of milk. In India there are buffaloes,” said Ruto.“There is no problem in that. So PS Mueke, do as we had agreed. Bring in buffalo and also bring in a better breed of camel because we need to diversify our milk sources,” he added.Ruto argued that camels could offer an alternative source of milk, noting that the commodity was selling at higher prices than cow's milk in Nairobi.“Here in Nairobi, the camel's milk is about Ksh190 and is selling at almost Ksh200, beating cow's milk three times. We need to start thinking,” Ruto said.The President maintained that the proposed imports would help Kenya expand its milk production options at a time when drought conditions have affected supply.“Currently, we have a slight shortage of milk due to drought. Camels have more milk than cows. We will ensure we bring in a better breed,” Ruto stated.His remarks come amid concerns over declining milk deliveries to processors, with formal deliveries falling from 84.4 million litres in June to 81.3 million litres in July 2026, followed by further declines into August and September.The supply challenge has coincided with higher prices, with fresh milk in major urban centres, including Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu, reportedly selling at between Ksh75 and Ksh80 for a 500ml packet, up from around Ksh60 to Ksh70.The shortage has also affected the supply chain, with some farmers reportedly selling raw milk directly to neighbourhood buyers and brokers rather than through formal cooperatives.

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Nation

‘Not you, Edwin. Sit down’: Day Raila stopped Sifuna from quitting SG post

The late Raila Odinga (right) with Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna at Capitol Hill in Nairobi on February 2, 2024.When four key ODM officials relinquished their positions to take up Cabinet slots in the broad-based government in 2024, then ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna believed he had found a way out of an increasingly uncomfortable job.The party was preparing to fill positions left vacant by the departure of two deputy party leaders - Hassan Joho and Wycliffe Oparanya - as well as National Chairperson John Mbadi and Opiyo Wandayi, who had joined the Cabinet. The Nairobi senator saw an opportunity to relinquish his position as secretary-general and take up one of the deputy party leader slots.“Not you, Edwin. Sit down,” Mr Sifuna recalls Raila telling him when he rose to leave the room, as the late ODM leader had requested all aspirants to do before the discussion began. The remark drew laughter from the other leaders in the room.Nairobi Senator and The Equitable Party (TEP) leader Edwin Sifuna during a joint media engagement at Four Points By Sheraton Nairobi Hurlingham on October 9, 2026.The intervention, Mr Sifuna says, ended his attempt to use the recruitment process to escape a job that had become increasingly difficult as ODM navigated its relationship with President William Ruto’s administration.In a revealing account of his relationship with his former boss, Mr Sifuna says he had reached a point where he wanted to stop being the person required to defend the party’s decisions in public, particularly when he believed those decisions risked compromising its political identity.The encounter, which he places at a meeting in Upper Hill in August 2024, offers a glimpse into the relationship between the two men before Raila’s death and the subsequent rupture between Mr Sifuna and sections of the ODM leadership.It also provides his response to claims that his relationship with Raila had deteriorated in the final months of the former Prime Minister’s life.Mr Sifuna says that, contrary to accounts suggesting Raila wanted him removed, the former Prime Minister had expressly rejected his request to leave the secretary-general’s office and assured him that he remained free to criticise the government.The senator recounted during a media roundtable on Friday that the meeting had been convened to discuss filling positions left vacant by officials who had joined the government.As the discussion turned to potential candidates, Raila asked those interested in the positions to leave the room.From left: Then-ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna,  ODM leader the late Raila Odinga and Siaya Senator James Orengo.Mr Sifuna said he attempted to persuade Raila to let him go, joking that the former Prime Minister had received his papers first. But Raila refused.Instead, according to Mr Sifuna, the veteran politician explained that the secretary-general’s position was more important than the vacancies being discussed.“He gave a story there about how the SG is the heart of the party. You know, these positions here, really, they cannot compare to this,” Mr Sifuna recalled.The exchange was light-hearted, but it exposed a serious dilemma for the senator. As secretary-general, he was responsible for communicating the party’s position, even when he was uncomfortable with the direction it was taking.Mr Sifuna then asked Raila whether he was certain he wanted him to remain in office.He warned that he would continue to cause friction because he intended to speak truth to power and call out the government whenever he believed it was acting wrongly.“I want to continue to speak truth to power. I want to be able to call out this government when they do wrong. And I can see I’m causing unnecessary friction within the party,” he said he told Raila.Nairobi Senator and The Equitable Party (TEP) leader Edwin Sifuna during a joint media engagement at Four Points By Sheraton Nairobi Hurlingham on October 9, 2026.His proposed solution was to leave the secretary-general’s position and take up one of the deputy party leader roles, allowing someone else to manage the increasingly difficult task of explaining ODM’s political choices.“He refused. And he said expressly, ‘Sifuna, nobody has told you not to say anything. You proceed,’” Mr Sifuna recalled.The account is significant because it places the disagreement over ODM’s cooperation with the Kenya Kwanza administration within the context of an earlier decision by Raila to retain a secretary-general whose public statements sometimes generated controversy within the party.The late Raila Odinga (left) with Mr Edwin Sifuna during the ODM National Governing Council meeting in Nairobi on March 1, 2019.It also offers a window into the relationship that Mr Sifuna says allowed him to survive repeated attempts by colleagues to have him removed.The senator has repeatedly rejected suggestions that he and Raila were estranged before the former Prime Minister died in October 2025.

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Kenyans.co.ke

Cabinet Approves Electric Cookers for Residents in 4 Counties

President William Ruto’s Cabinet has approved a Ksh1.1 billion electric cooking programme targeting residents of Nairobi, Kiambu, Machakos and Kajiado counties.In a Cabinet dispatch obtained by Kenyans.co.ke and dated Friday, October 9, the government announced plans to support the uptake of 100,000 electric cooking appliances under the initiative.According to the dispatch, the programme aims to promote cleaner cooking methods, reduce household exposure to harmful smoke and improve the adoption of modern energy technologies.“The Cabinet-endorsed initiative will promote cleaner cooking, reduce household exposure to harmful smoke and accelerate the transition to modern energy,” read part of the dispatch.The Cabinet noted that the initiative will cost the government about Ksh1.1 billion and will focus on increasing the uptake of electric cooking appliances in the four counties.“About Ksh1.1 billion electric cooking programme will support the uptake of 100,000 electric cooking appliances in Nairobi, Kiambu, Machakos and Kajiado counties,” it added.However, the government did not specify whether the appliances would be distributed free of charge, sold at subsidised prices or provided through other arrangements.Similarly, the government did not indicate when the multi-billion-shilling programme would begin or how residents in the four aforementioned counties would qualify.The latest announcement appears to be a shift from the government’s previous plans to reduce the price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders for Kenyan households.In 2023, Ruto pledged to reduce the price of 6kg cylinders to between Ksh300 and Ksh500, as part of efforts to make cleaner cooking fuels more affordable.However, the promised price range was not achieved, with LPG refills continuing to cost considerably more, forcing some Kenyans to seek alternatives such as charcoal and firewood.Meanwhile, to boost electricity supply to homesteads, the Cabinet adopted the Kenya National Energy Compact, setting out a plan to mobilise Ksh2.47 trillion in investment and connect an additional 5.1 million households to electricity by 2030."The initiative will expand power access to underserved communities, support enterprise growth and create opportunities for industrial development and employment," the cabinet announced.

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Kenyans.co.ke

Cabinet Approves Ksh45 Billion Financing for Kenya Airways Turnaround

The Cabinet on Friday, October 9, approved Ksh45.4 billion in new financing to support the turnaround of national carrier Kenya Airways. Kenyans.co.ke has established that the funds will cover urgent financial obligations, including aircraft maintenance and returning grounded planes to service.As of September, KQ had three aircraft undergoing major service after hitting 12 years. According to the Cabinet Dispatch, the financing will be disbursed in instalments with a repayment period of 10 years.“The government may also convert the funds into equity, subject to the necessary approvals,” the Cabinet said, in a move that could allow the national carrier to speed up its recovery strategy.Separately, the Cabinet approved a proposal to convert Ksh122 billion in government loans, plus interest, into a tradable instrument that could be converted into shares.Cabinet said the move, which was first mooted when Kenya Airways announced its 2025 financial results in March, is aimed at strengthening the airline’s balance sheet and supporting future capital raising. "The measure is intended to strengthen Kenya Airways' balance sheet and support future capital raising. Implementation remains subject to corporate, shareholder and regulatory approvals," Cabinet stated.In June, then CEO George Kamal told Kenyans.co.ke the company had received offers from investors, however, the Ksh122 billion in government loans remained a stumbling block. Kenya Airways has been in talks with the National Treasury on debt restructuring plans for the better part of the year, with President William Ruto’s administration signalling intent to strengthen the carrier. The government says the measures are part of the long-term turnaround plan to turn KQ into profits. In the year to June 30, KQ reported a 9 per cent jump in profits to Ksh81.25 billion, however, the company remains in the red due to deeper net losses largely driven by surging fuel and maintenance costs.“Implementation remains subject to the necessary corporate, shareholder and regulatory approvals,” Cabinet noted. 

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Capital News

Cabinet approves Sh23.74 billion settlement of pending bills for suppliers owed up to Sh50 million

NAIROBI, Kenya Oct 9 – The Cabinet has approved the settlement of 28,726 verified Government pending bills worth Sh23.74 billion, alongside major investments in healthcare, energy, roads, water, education and the turnaround of Kenya Airways.The pending bills, all valued at Sh50 million and below, represent 98 per cent of the 29,257 claims recommended for settlement. Some suppliers and contractors have been waiting for payment since 2005, according to a dispatch from State House.The decision follows a review by the Pending Bills Verification Committee, which received 115,617 claims worth Sh664.8 billion. After verification, 29,257 claims valued at Sh155.34 billion were recommended for settlement.The National Treasury will oversee implementation, with priority given to micro, small and medium enterprises, particularly those owned by women, young people and persons with disabilities. Bills exceeding Sh50 million will be settled progressively.In healthcare, Cabinet approved a major hospital infrastructure programme that will include the construction of a 2,000-bed Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital and a 1,000-bed Level Six hospital in Mombasa.It also approved the expansion of 13 Level Five hospitals by an additional 300 beds each in Mandera, Marsabit, Turkana, Kilifi, Embu, Nakuru, Laikipia, Migori, Nyamira, Baringo, Bomet, Narok and Kisii counties.Cabinet also endorsed a KSh8 billion healthcare programme with France to establish and equip specialised head and neck surgical units at Kenyatta National Hospital, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital and the University of Nairobi Dental Hospital.The programme will also strengthen cancer treatment and train 5,000 community health workers.Cabinet adopted the Kenya National Energy Compact, which seeks to mobilise approximately KSh2.47 trillion, equivalent to USD19 billion, in investment and connect an additional 5.1 million households to electricity by 2030.The Government says the plan will expand electricity access to underserved communities while supporting enterprise growth, industrial development and employment.Cabinet also approved a USD8.8 million electric cooking programme to support the uptake of 100,000 electric cooking appliances in Nairobi, Kiambu, Machakos and Kajiado counties.Cabinet cleared three strategic road corridors under the Roads for Rural Economic Development Programme.They include the 253-kilometre South Rift–Lake Region Gateway Corridor, the 256-kilometre Great Highlands Connectivity Corridor and the approximately 400-kilometre Lake Victoria Ring Road.The projects are intended to connect agricultural production areas, fishing communities and trading centres to wider markets while reducing transport costs and travel times.Cabinet approved an additional KSh12.83 billion to complete the Thwake Multipurpose Dam.The project is expected to supply 150,000 cubic metres of water daily to about 1.3 million people in Makueni and Kitui counties, including Wote and surrounding areas, as well as Konza Technopolis.Cabinet adopted the Sessional Paper on Transforming Education, Training and Research, paving the way for reforms aimed at improving access to quality learning and equipping young Kenyans with skills for employment, entrepreneurship and economic opportunity.The reforms will strengthen Competency-Based Education, address teacher shortages, expand technical and vocational training and better align education with labour market demands. CABINET NEWS OCTOBER 9, 2026Cabinet approved USD350 million in shareholder financing for Kenya Airways to meet urgent financial obligations, including aircraft maintenance and returning grounded aircraft to service.The funds will be disbursed in tranches under National Treasury oversight, with a repayment period of up to 10 years and the possibility of conversion into equity, subject to the necessary approvals.Cabinet also endorsed the proposed conversion of Sh122 billion in existing Government loans, plus accrued interest, into an equity-qualifying tradable instrument to strengthen the airline’s balance sheet and support future capital raising.Cabinet reviewed preparations for Mazingira Day on October 10 and reaffirmed its focus on tree growing, ecosystem restoration and climate action.The Green Challenge aims to mobilise 200,000 Kenyans to plant six million trees within one hour, contributing to the national target of growing 15 billion trees by 2032.Cabinet also considered plans to restore 462,299 hectares of degraded landscapes and approved additional financing for community-led climate action across all 47 counties.Cabinet further adopted the National Insurance Policy 2026, which seeks to make insurance more affordable and accessible, particularly for farmers, informal sector workers and small businesses.The policy proposes reforms to strengthen consumer protection, tighten oversight of insurers, combat insurance fraud and expand digital insurance services.Cabinet cleared the Architectural and Quantity Surveying Practitioners Bill, 2026, which proposes tougher action against unqualified practitioners and penalties of up to Sh2 million or two years in prison for false registration or licensing.

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CIO Africa

What Starlink’s 800 MHz Move Could Mean For Kenyans

Last night, something unusual happened on Wall Street. When SpaceX announced it had secured low-band 800 MHz spectrum for Starlink Mobile in the United States (official announcement), shares of AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile dropped sharply, falling between 6 and 8 percent in after-hours trading. Investors suddenly realised that a satellite company capable of reaching phones indoors, not just in open fields, could become a serious mobile player.For those of us watching Kenya’s digital journey, the news lands differently. It is not just an American story. It is a reminder of what becomes possible when spectrum, satellites and smart policy meet. In my earlier article, Safaricom vs Starlink: What’s the Fuss All About?, I discussed the first battle between Safaricom and Starlink and how it affected ordinary broadband users in Kenya. This is a continuation of that story.Starlink has been establishing a presence in Kenya, and by mid-2026, it had more than 27,000 fixed broadband customers. That represented only about 1 percent of the overall fixed broadband market, but almost the entire satellite segment. Many Kenyans living in areas where fibre has yet to arrive, or where mobile signals fade as soon as they step inside a stone house, already know the difference a clear sky and a small dish can make.Starlink’s mobile ambitions in Kenya are also taking shape through Airtel. Under the direct-to-cell partnership announced by Airtel Africa and SpaceX in December 2025, Airtel Kenya tested Starlink Mobile data and messaging services in March 2026 and has since applied for a licence to offer the service commercially. The same partnership is already live in East Africa, having launched in the Democratic Republic of Congo in August 2026 and Uganda in September. It allows ordinary smartphones to connect directly to satellites in areas with a clear view of the sky. The question now is: What if Starlink added the same kind of low-band spectrum it has just secured in America?Until recently, Starlink’s direct-to-phone service relied mainly on mid-band spectrum and partnerships. It worked well outdoors and in open areas but struggled indoors and in dense environments because higher frequencies do not penetrate walls and buildings as effectively.The new 800 MHz low-band spectrum changes that. SpaceX now describes a hybrid architecture in which global 2 GHz mid-band spectrum supplies high-bandwidth capacity, while the newly acquired 800 MHz spectrum provides a dedicated “coverage layer”. That layer is designed to push signals through walls, trees and other obstacles, helping ordinary phones stay connected even inside buildings. Combined with the next-generation satellite constellation, Starlink aims to offer a network that works outdoors, indoors, in dead zones and everywhere in between. This would make it one of the first operators to deploy satellite and terrestrial spectrum in this way.That shift is what rattled the big US carriers, or at least the traders of their publicly listed shares. It also moves Starlink from being a useful outdoor or emergency service towards something closer to everyday mobile coverage.The route runs through spectrum. Kenya’s 800 MHz band is already fully allocated, so there is no fresh block for Starlink to apply for. Telkom Kenya, however, holds 2×10 MHz of 800 MHz spectrum (Band 20) nationwide and has struggled for years to compete in the mobile market. A deal to lease or buy that block and refarm it as a Starlink coverage layer, subject to approval by the Communications Authority of Kenya, is not unthinkable.That would change Starlink’s position in Kenya. Today, its path to Kenyan phones runs through a partnership with Airtel. With its own low-band spectrum, Starlink could follow the American playbook and move from partner to competitor, offering mobile coverage in its own right. It would take political will and careful regulatory handling, but for a Telkom that has long searched for a way forward in mobile, it is a conversation worth having.David is a Kenya Wildlife Service ranger in Mount Kenya National Park. He carries a basic feature phone, and once he steps under the forest canopy or into the staff quarters, his calls drop. An 800 MHz coverage layer working with satellites could keep that phone connected more reliably, indoors and out. The 2 GHz mid-band direct-to-cell service is a different matter. To use it on the mountain, David would need a compatible phone. For rangers, teachers, nurses and farmers in similar places, reliable coverage matters more than peak speed.Maina runs a small online business from his apartment in Kiambu, and he relies on M-PESA more than anything else. It is how his customers pay him. His slightly battered Samsung already supports Kenya’s 800 MHz band, so a Starlink coverage layer could strengthen his signal and reduce the dead spots that interrupt payments. Faster 2 GHz speeds could follow as newer handsets arrive, but Maina normally upgrades his phone every two to three years, or sooner if it gets stolen.

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Capital News

US report flags Kenya’s failure to act on officials linked to human trafficking

NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 9 — Kenya has failed to report meaningful enforcement action against public officials and recruitment agencies allegedly linked to human trafficking, with a new United States report warning that official complicity continues to undermine the country’s efforts to prosecute the crime.The 2026 Trafficking in Persons Report said Kenyan authorities investigated three Ministry of Labour officials suspected of accepting bribes to facilitate potential trafficking involving migrant workers travelling to the Middle East, but highlighted broader concerns over alleged collusion between public officials and recruitment networks.The report also found that the government had not reported action against recruitment agencies allegedly owned by government employees and suspected of facilitating trafficking, with authorities frequently pursuing lesser offences such as failure to register recruitment companies.“Corruption and official complicity in trafficking crimes remained significant concerns, inhibiting law enforcement action during the year,” the report stated.The findings raise questions about accountability within institutions responsible for regulating overseas recruitment and protecting Kenyans seeking employment abroad.Media reports cited in the assessment indicated that more than 10 per cent of Kenyan government officials held ownership interests in private employment agencies, including firms recruiting migrant workers for jobs overseas, creating potential conflicts of interest.Observers also alleged that criminal syndicates colluded with law enforcement and immigration departments at border checkpoints and airports to transport trafficking victims into and within Kenya.The report further cited allegations that some Kenyan embassy officials in Saudi Arabia demanded sex or cash payments from women seeking government assistance to escape abusive employers and return home.The allegations come against the backdrop of declining anti-trafficking prosecutions and convictions.Kenya convicted six traffickers in 2025, down from 21 in 2024, while prosecutions fell from 44 cases to 14.The government investigated 43 trafficking cases during the year, compared with 42 in 2024.The report also detailed allegations involving the fraudulent recruitment of more than 1,000 Kenyan men to fight for the Russian military in the war against Ukraine, with officials reporting that Kenyan and Russian officials had colluded with illicit recruiters to facilitate the recruitment.Despite the concerns, Kenya remained on Tier 2 in the US assessment, which recognises significant efforts to combat trafficking while finding that the government has not fully met the minimum standards for eliminating the crime.The report credited Kenya with identifying more victims, repatriating citizens exploited in overseas online scam operations, and securing its first civil judgment against a fraudulent recruiter.However, it said persistent concerns over official complicity continued to hamper law enforcement and victim identification, while protection services for adult survivors remained limited.​Bruhan Makong is a Senior News Reporter for Capital FM in Nairobi, covering diplomacy, foreign policy, national security, climate, and human rights across East Africa and the wider region.

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Capital News

Kenya identifies more trafficking victims but convictions plunge, US report finds

NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 9— Kenya’s convictions of human traffickers fell by more than 70 per cent in 2025, even as authorities identified more victims, with a new United States report raising concerns over official complicity, fraudulent overseas recruitment and inadequate protection for survivors.The 2026 Trafficking in Persons Report found that Kenya convicted six traffickers under its anti-trafficking law in 2025, down from 21 in 2024, while prosecutions fell sharply from 44 cases to 14.The findings point to a widening gap between the identification of trafficking victims and the prosecution of those responsible, despite increased government efforts to rescue Kenyans exploited abroad and strengthen victim assistance.“The government decreased anti-trafficking law enforcement efforts,” the report stated in its assessment of Kenya’s prosecution record.Kenya retained its Tier 2 ranking, meaning the government was making significant efforts to combat trafficking but had not fully met the minimum standards for eliminating the crime.The report credited authorities with identifying substantially more victims, partnering with civil society organisations to assist and securing the country’s first civil judgment against a fraudulent recruiter.However, it said prosecutions and convictions had declined, protection services remained limited, and allegations of official complicity continued to undermine enforcement.Kenyan authorities investigated 43 trafficking cases in 2025, compared with 42 in 2024.However, the number of cases prosecuted dropped from 44 to 14, while convictions fell from 21 traffickers to six.Of those convicted, five were involved in sex trafficking and one in forced labour.Two sex traffickers received 30-year prison sentences, three were sentenced to 20 years, and the labour trafficker received a 10-year sentence.The government reported 103 ongoing prosecutions, suggesting that numerous cases remained before the courts even as the number brought forward during the reporting period declined.The report also identified weaknesses in national data collection, noting that a centralised law enforcement database developed with an NGO had not become operational by the end of the reporting period.The absence of a functioning system hindered the collection and breakdown of national trafficking statistics, potentially contributing to underreporting.The report raised concerns about alleged corruption involving public officials, saying it continued to inhibit law enforcement action and efforts to identify trafficking victims.The government investigated three Ministry of Labour officials suspected of accepting bribes to facilitate potential trafficking crimes involving migrant workers travelling to the Middle East.Observers also alleged that criminal syndicates colluded with law enforcement and immigration personnel at border checkpoints and airports to move trafficking victims into and within Kenya.Media reports cited by the assessment indicated that more than 10 per cent of Kenyan government officials held ownership interests in private employment agencies, including firms recruiting workers for jobs abroad, raising potential conflicts of interest.The government did not report taking action against recruitment agencies allegedly owned by public employees and suspected of facilitating trafficking.Instead, authorities frequently pursued lesser offences, including failure to register recruitment companies.The report also cited allegations that some Kenyan embassy officials in Saudi Arabia demanded sex or cash from women seeking government assistance to escape abusive employers and return home.Separately, officials reported that Kenyan nationals had been fraudulently recruited with the involvement of Kenyan officials, Russian officials and illicit recruiters to fight for the Russian military in the war against Ukraine.More than 1,000 Kenyan men were reportedly recruited through promises of employment before being drawn into military service.Despite the decline in prosecutions, Kenya recorded progress in identifying trafficking victims and expanding assistance.Authorities identified 271 trafficking victims in the reporting period, up from 195 previously. Of those identified, 260 were victims of forced labour and 11 of sex trafficking.The government referred 44 victims to services, compared with none in the previous reporting period, while partnerships with non-governmental organisations enabled assistance to 483 victims, up from 321.The government also funded the voluntary repatriation of hundreds of Kenyans exploited abroad, particularly in online scam operations across Southeast Asia.However, the report found that services for adult victims remained inadequate, with limited shelter capacity for men and some victims being referred to homeless shelters or left without accommodation.Funding for direct victim assistance through the National Assistance Trust Fund for Victims of Trafficking fell to Sh9.27 million from Sh20 million in the previous reporting period.

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