The High Court has stopped the planned auction of a property at the 14 Riverside Drive complex in Nairobi after finding the process leading to the sale defective and invalid. In a ruling issued on Thursday, October 8, Justice Moses Ado set aside the warrants and auction notices that had paved the way for the property’s disposal. The decision came after a court notice ordered that the auction be held on May 26 to recover about Ksh4.9 billion that had accumulated from a failed office-block purchase.The court also dismissed an objection by the creditor seeking to enforce payment through the auction, which had challenged the court’s jurisdiction.Additionally, allegations made against the court by the creditor were also ordered removed from the record.The long-running commercial dispute dates back to 2010, when the creditor agreed to purchase two office blocks within the Riverside development. About Ksh577 million was paid as an advance before the transaction collapsed, with the creditor later seeking a refund over delays in completing the development. The property owner disputed the claim, arguing that some of the delays were linked to design changes requested by the buyer. Eventually, attempts were made to recover the money through the sale of the property, which were challenged by the property owner. The dispute saw an arbitrator order the property owners to refund the buyer in 2015, a decision the High Court overturned in 2016 before the Court of Appeal reinstated it in 2019, with the Supreme Court allowing enforcement on March 24.Now, the latest ruling has stopped the auction process without resolving the underlying commercial dispute.The decision means the planned auction cannot proceed under the notices that had already been issued. Any future attempt to auction the property will have to start afresh and comply with the court’s directions, with the reserve price also set by the court.
Read briefing TATA Chemicals will not take any action on the Magadi mining operations until the joint technical team completes its work, Managing Director Ramakrishnan Mukundan has said.While speaking on the sidelines of a presser on Wednesday, October 7, Mukundan stated that the committee that the government set up will look into their arguments, whose decision will help TATA Chemicals make the next move.Mukundan stated that the group still holds a 30-year lease to Lake Magadi even in the presence of the mining licence disputes with the Kenyan government.“We have the lease of the mine for another 30 years and will wait for the outcome of the committee before moving forward,” Mukundan stated.Tata representatives are part of the technical committee which is evaluating a raft of concerns, including citing an exploitative century-old framework and a severe lack of economic benefit to the country, raised by the government, leading to the licence suspension.Be that as it may, he added that companies facing crises such as Tata ought to focus on strategic direction and be ready to make tough calls when the need arises. In hindsight, the Tata Group, which is also in the fintech business, officially exited the highly competitive consumer mobile business on July 1, 2019.Mukundan reiterated that period in the family business, drawing parallels with the current licence brawl with the Kenyan government, stating that “Where we cannot win, we exit.” An audit by the Ministry of Mining had raised flags over missing royalty payments, environmental compliance, and the lack of a valid mining license.While President Ruto ordered the end of operations and exit of the company, he later clarified that the mineral rights and contract would be advertised afresh through a competitive bidding process to allow multiple companies to apply. “That TATA company … had that contract for 100 years. They have not built anything in Kajiado, they have not built any factory in Kajiado," Ruto said. With operations frozen, local unions have raised massive alarms regarding the impending retrenchment and loss of regular wages for over 500 direct employees and thousands of indirect casual labourers who depend entirely on the Magadi plant ecosystem.
Read briefing Kenya Power has announced seven golden rules that its staff are expected to follow as part of several changes during this week's customer service week.Kenyans.co.ke learnt of this development after the launch of the 7 Golden Safety and Health Rules, expected to streamline workplace operations and reinforce the utility work culture. “Today, we launched the 7 Golden Safety & Health Rules, reinforcing our commitment to protecting the safety and wellbeing of every employee and contractor. They will simplify critical safety expectations, strengthen power line management accountability, and promote a positive safety culture across the Company,” KPLC stated.Top of the list is the canon that mandates that staff must assess a job's safety before starting any task, given that some teams work on live wires.The second rule requires staff to follow each step of what the company calls the SITE procedure, which is the outlined official instructions for safety protocols that govern activities as well as operations at a project site. Under the third rule, workers must always install standard protection fuses on both low voltage (LV) and high voltage (HV) networks, critical safeguards for lines against dangerous electrical faults.Rule four deals with personal protective equipment (PPE), with every employee expected to inspect the required gear and wear it each time they work.The fifth rule touches on communication, where staff are mandated to communicate and establish control through broadcast radio whenever switching is being carried out on the power lines.Kenya Power has also barred its workers from operating or accessing any equipment while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, forming the sixth guideline.The final rule touches on the aspect of condition management. It requires the employees to keep an eye on the equipment they are using on site, as the work they are doing is in progress. This comes as Kenya Power staff fatalities fell by 50 per cent to five in 2025, down from 10, while contractor deaths declined from three to two.Total fatalities likewise rose to 122, with public deaths increasing to 115. Faulty wiring, encroachment, illegal connections plus collapsed lines formed the bulk of the major causes of the accidents.
Read briefing Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta has resigned as Azimio la Umoja Council Chairperson with immediate effect, Kenyans.co.ke has established.Uhuru headed the council, which was responsible for the governance, policy direction, and strategic planning of the coalition, which has since rebranded to The Ukombozi Alliance (TUA).Kenyans.co.ke has learnt that Uhuru tendered his resignation in a letter dated October 5 and addressed to the coalition's party leader, Kalonzo Musyoka, and copied to the National Steering Committee, just 15 days after stepping down as Jubilee Party leader. In the letter, Uhuru said, "Following the official handover of the Jubilee Party leadership, I am writing to formally resign from my leadership position within the Azimio La Umoja Coalition, effective immediately.""We have received President Kenyatta's letter of 5th October 2026, in which he resigns from his leadership position within the coalition with immediate effect. He tells us that his decision is not a departure from our shared political journey, and he reminds us that a coalition is not a temporary alliance of convenience but a covenant of conviction," Kalonzo said in a statement shared with this publication.Uhuru officially relinquished his leadership of the Jubilee Party on September 22, handing the reins to former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i.He announced plans to step down on September 15, following a High Court ruling by Justice Lawrence Mugambi that enforced Section 6 of the Presidential Retirement Benefits Act, which bars retired presidents from holding political party office more than six months after leaving office.At the time, Uhuru said he would remain a member and senior adviser of the Jubilee Party.Kenyans.co.ke has also learnt that the coalition is considering DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua and Siaya Governor James Orengo for senior leadership roles in the restructured alliance, with Gachagua having been proposed to succeed Uhuru as council chairperson.Sources have also indicated that Orengo could take up a co-chair position alongside Gachagua as the opposition bloc reorganises ahead of the 2027 General Election.The coalition, which has rebranded as the Ukombozi Alliance, is seeking to expand its membership and bring together opposition parties that were part of the 2022 Azimio formation alongside newer political formations.At the moment, Kalonzo serves as the coalition's party leader, while People's Liberation Party leader Martha Karua is the deputy coalition leader. Suba South MP Caroli Omondi is the Secretary-General.The expanded council includes Jubilee Deputy Party Leader Fred Matiang'i, Party of National Unity (PNU) leader Peter Munya and Devolution Empowerment Party leader Lenny Kivuti.The coalition has also resolved to invite the Umoja na Maendeleo Party, led by Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza, the People's Democratic Party, led by Omingo Magara, and the Democratic Party, led by former Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi. It is unclear whether DCP will join the alliance and whether or not the Linda Mwannchi faction will also fold into the Ukombozi Alliance, although Uhuru echoed calls for unity in opposition last weekend.
Read briefing The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has maintained the Central Bank Rate at 8.75 per cent for the eighth straight month, citing a stable economic outlook despite global pressures.In a statement shared with Kenyans.co.ke on October 7, CBK said inflation remains within the threshold of 6.8 per cent despite shocks from the Middle East conflict.Additionally, the committee also projected the economy to grow by 5 per cent, spearheaded by a vibrant industry and services."The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) decided to maintain the Central Bank Rate (CBR) at 8.75 percent, during its meeting held on October 7, 2026," said the statement in part.The decision, announced after the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting on October 7, keeps the benchmark rate unchanged for eight months straight, offering stability for borrowers and businesses seeking loans.CBK notes that inflation, which rose to about 4 per cent in September, was largely contributed to by the soaring prices of key food items such as milk, edible oils, and wheat that the nation has been grappling with for over two months. However, non-core inflation, affecting aspects of food and energy, such as fresh produce, electricity, fuel, and transport costs, shrunk to 14 per cent from 14.7 per cent due to easing vegetable prices and lower energy costs, while government interventions such as reduced fertiliser prices continued to cushion consumers.The committee says the economy is expected to grow by 5.3 per cent in 2027 even though unpredictable geopolitical crises as well as natural calamities such as El Niño continue to pose serious risks to the economy. Despite the unchanged benchmark rate, average commercial bank lending rates edged up slightly to 14.4 per cent in September from 14.3 per cent in August, with the Kenyan Shilling maintaining a Ksh129 since April.On the other hand, credit to the private sector continued to grow, with commercial banks recording lending growth of 10.6 per cent in September, compared to 10.3 per cent in August and a negative 2.9 per cent in January 2025.The banking sector also contributed, maintaining stability with gross non-performing loans declining to 13.9 per cent in September from 14.8 per cent in June, while foreign exchange reserves stood at USD 14.7 billion, roughly about Ksh1.9 trillion.
Read briefing The Court of Appeal has ruled that employees who sign full-and-final settlement agreements cannot later pursue additional benefits arising from the same dispute unless they prove a legally recognised reason for challenging the agreement. According to court documents obtained by Kenyans.co.ke, the ruling arose from a case in which an employee’s claim was dismissed after she signed a certificate confirming that her terminal dues had been received in full and final settlement.A three-judge bench ruled that a properly signed final agreement is a binding agreement that can prevent an employee from making further claims.“Once a party voluntarily signs a voucher acknowledging receipt of funds in full and final settlement, they are estopped from raising further claims arising from that matter, unless they can prove a recognised vitiating factor like fraud, coercion, or misrepresentation,” the judgement stated.The court explained that the agreement can only be challenged if the employee proves a recognised reason such as duress, fraud, coercion or misrepresentation.“Unless an employee can prove that the waiver was signed under duress, fraud, or misrepresentation, the agreement validly extinguishes all existing and future statutory and contractual claims,” the judgement noted.The case involved a worker who had been employed for more than two decades before her position was declared redundant in 2019. She received Ksh6,957,625 in terminal dues and signed a discharge certificate stating that she had no further claims against her employer. However, the worker later challenged the termination, arguing that the redundancy process had not complied with the requirements of the Employment Act. The court found that the employer had failed to comply with mandatory redundancy procedures but still dismissed the claim because of the signed settlement.The employee appealed to the Court of Appeal, arguing that the voucher should not have prevented her from pursuing her statutory rights. The judges noted that the employee had not raised or proved that she was forced or pressured into signing the voucher when the case was initially heard. Further, the court rejected the argument that an employee’s lack of bargaining power or financial pressure after losing a job automatically amounts to duress.
Read briefing The office of ODM Party Leader and Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga has dismissed reports circulating on social media claiming that the veteran politician has died.In a statement issued on Tuesday, October 6, Oburu’s secretariat described the reports as malicious propaganda and fake news, urging the public to disregard the claims.The secretariat said Oburu was alive, safe and in good spirits, dismissing the reports attributed to a popular Kenyan blogger as false.“We wish to assure the general public, members of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), the people of Siaya County, and the entire nation that Dr. Oburu Oginga is well, safe, and in good spirits,” the secretariat said.The statement came amid growing speculation online over the politician’s health, with claims about his alleged death spreading across social media platforms.Oburu’s office said the reports were being circulated despite the lawmaker remaining involved in party and national affairs.The secretariat disclosed that Oburu was at the time preparing his official speech for the handover ceremony of the late Raila Odinga’s mausoleum at Kang'o ka Jaramogi.President William Ruto is among high profile leaders expected to attend the handover in Siaya County, ahead of Raila's first anniversary.The office, however, acknowledged that the ODM leader has been under doctors’ instructions to rest and limit strenuous physical engagements.Even so, it said Oburu remained mentally alert and continued to follow developments within the party and on national matters despite reducing his physical engagements.The secretariat condemned the spread of what it termed false information, accusing those behind the reports of using social media to cause unnecessary distress to his family, supporters and the public.“Free speech and open media are pillars of our democracy, but they must never be perverted into tools for malice, character assassination, and causing unnecessary distress to families and the public,” the statement said.Oburu, the elder brother of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, took over as ODM Party Leader following Raila’s death in October 2025.
Read briefing The government plans to expand its digital birth notification system to hospitals contracted by the Social Health Authority (SHA) within the next three months.Immigration and Citizen Services Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang said on Tuesday, October 6, that the Interior Ministry was finalising talks with the Ministry of Health to integrate the civil registration system with hospital management systems.Kipsang said the expansion is expected to be completed by December and will allow parents whose children are born in SHA-contracted hospitals to benefit from the electronic birth notification (e-notification) system.“We already finalised our engagement with the Ministry of Health, and we shall be rolling out across all our hospitals that benefit from the SHA. So everybody who benefits from SHA will be benefiting from the process of E-notification,” Kipsang stated."Within the next three months, we shall be able to roll out this system across all our officials who benefit from SHA," he added.The move will replace the physical birth notification that has been traditionally used when obtaining birth certificates with a digital notification dubbed E-notification, in a move expected to make it easier for parents to register newborns and obtain civil registration documents.On many occasions, parents have raised concerns over misplacing the physical birth notification, asking Huduma Kenya if there are ways to get the critical birth document without the notification.The development is expected to reduce reliance on manual processes in birth registration by allowing information captured at health facilities to be shared digitally with civil registration authorities.The rollout, the PS said, would also enable children to receive a Unique Personal Identifier (UPI), which is intended to provide a common identifier that can be used across government systems.The UPI system is being integrated with other government databases, including education and civil registration records, as part of efforts to create a more connected digital identity system.The ministry is already working with the Ministry of Education to clean and digitise student records before transitioning them to the UPI system.According to Kipsang, once students are linked to the UPI system, they will eventually be able to access their birth certificates digitally."Once they have the UPI, they can download and print their birth certificates for themselves," he said.
Read briefing Renovation works at Nyayo Stadium have been suspended after the contractor stopped operations over an outstanding Ksh984 million payment. During a meeting on Tuesday, October 6, the Senate Committee on Labour and Social Welfare was informed that only Ksh200 million has been paid against the Ksh1.184 billion contract. The unpaid balance has left the contractor off-site as the government works to prepare the facility for its role as a training venue during Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027. Several components of the upgrade have already been completed, including drainage improvements, floodlights and CCTV installations. However, key works are still pending, including linking the floodlights to the national grid and installing LED screens and a scoreboard. The remaining work also covers perimeter improvements, turnstiles, ticketing infrastructure and facilities designed to improve access for persons with disabilities. Committee chair and West Pokot County Senator Julius Murgor called for government agencies involved in the preparations to coordinate more closely on safety, accessibility and emergency arrangements. He specifically directed that the Ministry of Labour and Nairobi County be brought into the preparations if they had not already been involved. “If the Ministry of Labour and Nairobi County have not been involved so far, please begin by sending out their invitations today,” he stated.The committee said it will include its findings from the Nyayo Stadium inspection in a report covering the facility and the recent assessment of Talanta Stadium. The report will inform discussions with relevant ministries and the National Treasury over the money required to complete the outstanding works. Funding concerns come after Members of Parliament previously raised questions over Ksh2.176 billion in pending bills linked to projects under the State Department for Sports. Sports officials had attributed part of those obligations to stadium construction and rehabilitation projects, with lawmakers warning that inadequate funding could leave projects unfinished and increase government liabilities.
Read briefing Kenya has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for a proposed Ksh390 billion investment in electric vehicle manufacturing and green mobility.The agreement was signed on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, with the project covering electric vehicle assembly, charging infrastructure, and related value chains.President William Ruto said the MOU provides a framework for an integrated green mobility ecosystem, describing the proposed investment as one of the largest electric mobility commitments in the region.Under the proposal, one plant would have the capacity to assemble 50,000 four-wheelers, while a second facility would produce up to 100,000 two-wheelers and light mobility vehicles annually.The investment is expected to create about 2000 direct jobs and more than 20,000 indirect opportunities through suppliers, logistics, and service providers, and up to 80,000 additional opportunities in fleet management.Ruto said that this project would help Kenya reduce its reliance on imported finished vehicles by increasing local assembly and value addition to the country.He also urged that producing vehicles locally would help keep more economic value in the country while creating opportunities for technicians, engineers, suppliers and other businesses involved in the automotive sector.The project also included 1000 solar-powered charging hubs and a digital platform capable of managing up to 100,000 green vehicles, according to early reports on the agreement.This proposed investment comes as Kenya continues to build its electric mobility sector, where the country launched the National Electric Mobility Policy in February 2026, with the government targeting increased investment in EV manufacturing, assembly, and charging infrastructure.At the launch of the policy, the Ministry of Roads and Transport said Kenya has registered 39,324 electric vehicles cumulatively by 2025, up from 1,378 in 2022.The government also introduced tax incentives, including zero-rating VAT on electric buses, bicycles, motorcycles, and lithium-ion batteries.Kenya's green mobility sector is growing, with the government having to allocate special green number plates for electric vehicles in the country in the move to promote green space and sustainability in the country.
Read briefing The High Court has temporarily stopped the Kenya School of Law (KSL) and the Council of Legal Education (CLE) from admitting students to the 2027/2028 Advocates Training Programme (ATP) under new criteria that have been disputed. Justice John Onyiego issued the conservatory orders on Tuesday, October 6, in a case challenging the legality of the admission requirements announced by KSL. The dispute followed an amended KSL notice introducing three eligibility categories for ATP applicants, with petitioners arguing that the requirements had not been approved or gazetted through regulations.“That no regulations prescribing ATP admission requirements have been approved by Parliament, enacted or brought into force pursuant to the Legal Education Act following the said Court of Appeal Decision,” the petition stated.Entry to the ATP usually requires a minimum KCSE mean grade of C+ and at least a B plain in English or Kiswahili, among other conditions. However, the notice provided alternative routes such as allowing certain law graduates with lower secondary school grades to qualify through additional academic qualifications.Additionally, one of the new pathways provides for admission after passing a Pre-Bar Examination. The applicants argued that KSL cannot introduce or modify substantive entry requirements through an annual admission notice without a proper legal and regulatory basis. They contend that such changes should be made by the institution legally empowered to set admission standards and through the required procedures. The court has given the respondents seven days to respond to the application before the matter proceeds for further consideration. It has also directed that the application be handled on a priority basis, with the matter set for hearing on Tuesday, October 13.The dispute signals uncertainty for applicants as KSL recently opened applications for the 2027/2028 ATP and January 2027 Pre-Bar Examination, with deadlines set for November 13 and December 11, respectively.The case comes as the country pursues wider reforms in legal education, including proposals that could allow qualified institutions besides KSL to offer advocate training.
Read briefing The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has identified inadequate funding as one of the major challenges slowing efforts to expand and improve key roads across the country, as road accidents continue to claim lives.KeNHA Director General Luka Kimeli said on Monday, October 5, that the expansion of more than 2,500 kilometres of roads could significantly reduce the number of accidents, particularly along highways that have been identified as high-risk sections.Among the roads targeted for expansion is the Nairobi-Nakuru Highway, which is currently under construction, as well as the Mombasa-Nairobi Highway, where a series of fatal crashes have been reported in recent days.Kimeli said the planned dualling of the Mombasa-Nairobi Highway could help address some of the safety challenges experienced along the busy road, even as key agencies entrusted with road safety appear to be trading blame over the surge in road accidents.“We have lost a lot of lives on that road, and we hope that when the issue of dualling is addressed, we shall not have the kind of problems we are currently having,” Kimeli told Citizen TV.He, however, noted that KeNHA faces competition from other government sectors when seeking funds for road projects, limiting the pace at which some planned improvements can be undertaken.“The biggest challenge we have is the competition we are subjected to when seeking funding with other sectors of the economy,” the KeNHA DG said. KeNHA Director of Development Henry Gakuru also pointed to terrain and some design challenges as factors that could contribute to accidents in certain sections, saying the agency was working to address such risks.The authority said it was also considering speed-calming measures and other interventions at identified blackspots while appealing to motorists to exercise caution and observe traffic rules.The position differs from that of the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), which said road safety cannot be attributed to one factor, with the agency pointing to the condition of vehicles, roads, road users and post-crash response.“When a crash happens, you ask yourself what was the issue with the vehicle and the road as well as the road user and the post-crash,” NTSA Director of Safety Andrew Kiplagat said.NTSA said it had audited some sections of the major highways and recommended interventions, including dualling in some areas, but noted that the responsible road agencies were yet to implement some of the recommendations.Meanwhile, motorists have raised concerns over inadequate road signs, stalled trucks left on highways for long periods, unmarked bumps and risky driving behaviour on roads including the Nairobi-Nakuru, Nakuru-Eldoret and Mombasa-Nairobi highways.Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir said the government was taking steps to address the rising accidents, including expanding key highways, and assured that the Nairobi-Mombasa road and other identified accident hotspots remained a priority as the government works on funding.
Read briefing Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba has warned 2026 national examination candidates, teachers and invigilators against engaging in exam malpractice ahead of the start of the examination period.Speaking during the launch of the 2026 National Examination Assessment Season at the New Mtihani House in South C, Nairobi, Ogamba said the Ministry of Education would take action against anyone found violating examination regulations.The CS said the warning applies to candidates, centre managers, supervisors and invigilators, urging all those involved to comply with the rules governing the examinations.“Let me affirm today that we will have no mercy on anyone who will be found engaging in any form of malpractice. All candidates, centre managers, supervisors and invigilators must comply with examination regulations,” Ogamba stated.Failure to comply with exam rules, the CS noted, proprietors will face the full force of the law.According to the ministry, it is working with all stakeholders to ensure that exam integrity is maintained during the exam period to ensure credibility and efficiency.In efforts to curb cheating and enhance security, the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) will secure all examination containers using smart padlocks, and they will be monitored remotely.The technology, according to KNEC boss David Njegere, was used in last year's examination period in 250 schools and is efficient to be rolled out to all schools in the country.The warning comes two weeks before the beginning of the 2026 national examination period, set to begin on October 19 and end on November 20.The Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) is scheduled for October 26 to October 29, while the Kenya Intermediate Level Education Assessment (KILEA) will run from October 26 to October 30.Additionally, candidates sitting the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) and the Kenya Pre-Vocational Level Education Assessment (KPLEA) will take their examinations between October 26 and November 5. The Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations are scheduled to take place from October 19, with foreign languages as the first exams, before other subject exams begin officially from November 2 to November 20.
Read briefing Kenyans seeking to own shares in the Dangote Petroleum Refinery can now participate in its Initial Public Offering (IPO) after the Capital Markets Authority (CMA) approved a Short Form Prospectus for a Global Depository Receipt (GDR).In a statement on Monday, October 5, CMA approved a Short Form Prospectus submitted by Renaissance Capital (Kenya) Limited, allowing eligible Kenyan investors to participate in the Nigerian refinery's IPO."The Capital Markets Authority (CMA) has approved a Short Form Prospectus for a global depository receipt (GDR) submitted by Renaissance Capital (Kenya) Limited, a licensed investment bank, enabling eligible Kenyan investors to participate in the Initial Public Offering (IPO) of Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals (DPRP)," CMA stated.Under the arrangement, investors will participate through GDRs, which are negotiable certificates issued by a depository bank to represent shares in a foreign company.According to the CMA, the company was approved because it is working in collaboration with its branch, which is licensed in Nigeria.The company will put in place appropriate custodial arrangements for funds received from Kenyan investors. "In the case under review, Renaissance Capital (Kenya) Limited will put in place appropriate custodial arrangements for funds received from investors. Renaissance Capital (Kenya) Limited is working in collaboration with Renaissance Capital Africa, licensed in Nigeria," CMA added.Once the IPO closes and the allocation of Dangote Refinery shares is confirmed, Renaissance Capital Kenya will structure the GDRs, which are expected to be listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE). However, the NSE listing will be subject to obtaining the necessary approvals from Nigeria's Securities and Exchange Commission. "Listing of the GDRs at NSE will be subject to obtaining relevant approvals from the Securities and Exchange Commission, Nigeria," the authority added.The latest move allows Kenyan investors to access a major African IPO while strengthening Kenya's position as a financial hub for capital raising across the continent. The approval comes days after the Dangote group opened its IPO for Nigerians and Africans at large on September 14, and it is set to close on October 13. Many Kenyans expressed interest in acquiring shares in the company but were locked out because the IPO was not approved in Kenya. It also comes days after the group broke ground for the Ksh2.2 trillion East African Oil Refinery in Lamu. However, CMA cautioned that the Lamu refinery was not part of the IPO."CMA wishes to clarify that the DPRP IPO relates only to Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals FZE based in Nigeria, and at this time, is not an offer of shares in the Dangote East African Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals project in Lamu County," the authority said.Meanwhile, the authority cautioned investors that its approval of the Short Form Prospectus does not amount to a recommendation to invest, advising them to read the prospectus to understand the structure and seek independent professional investment advice before committing their funds.
Read briefing The Consumer Federation of Kenya (COFEK) has filed a written complaint with Moja Expressway over the alleged expiry of Toll Points used to pay for the Nairobi Expressway.In a letter obtained by Kenyans.co.ke, COFEK said it had received complaints from motorists who were notified that their prepaid Toll Points had allegedly expired.According to the lobby group, the motorists’ accounts still showed sufficient balances despite the alleged expiry.“We, the Consumers Federation of Kenya (COFEK), write regarding complaints from consumers who received Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) notifications that their prepaid Toll Points had allegedly expired, although their accounts still reflected sufficient balances,” COFEK stated.The group argues that Prepaid Toll Points are value paid for in advance and cannot therefore have an expiry date."Prepaid Toll Points are value paid for in advance. They can't lapse. They ought to accrue interest. Under Article 46 of the Constitution, consumers are entitled to information necessary to gain full benefit from services and to the protection of their economic interests," it added.In its letter dated October 5, 2026, COFEK issues several demands, asking Moja Expressway to respond within seven days or face legal action.The lobby asked the company to confirm whether prepaid toll fees have an expiry date, when the expiry date was introduced, and whether it applies to points bought before the rule.It is also demanding an explanation of how customers were informed about the rule and what happens to the unused balance.The lobby further wants Moja Expressway to determine whether the recent notifications were due to a policy change or a system error."In the premises, we request that, within seven (7) days of receipt hereof, you confirm whether prepaid Toll Points are subject to expiry and, if so, the governing terms, the date they took effect, and whether they apply to Toll Points purchased before their introduction or amendment," COFEK said.Prepaid toll points are loaded onto the Electronic Toll Collection System (ETC) and automatically read by an On-Board Unit (OBU) device installed on the vehicle.These points allow motorists to drive through the toll gates without stopping at the toll stations on the Nairobi Expressway.
Read briefing The Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE) has called on the government to introduce major changes to the social protection system to better support informal workers.Speaking during the 2026 National Social Protection Conference on Monday, October 5, FKE Executive Director Jacqueline Mugo called on the government and other stakeholders to explore sustainable ways of financing social protection programmes.Among the changes proposed by the federation is the introduction of social protection financing for workers in the informal sector.According to Mugo, many Kenyans working in the informal sector do not have regular access to social protection schemes.At the same time, the federation is proposing digital and flexible contribution systems that would allow people with irregular incomes to contribute when they can.Additionally, FKE is calling for programmes to train those in informal employment, to equip them with skills and employment opportunities so as to make them more resilient and return to work after economic or climate-related disruptions.Currently, employed workers have identifiable employers, regular incomes and established mechanisms through which statutory protections and contributions can be administered.Informal workers, on the other hand, may not have a conventional employer making regular contributions on their behalf.FKE's proposal could also have implications for schemes such as the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), especially in expanding contributory social protection to informal workers.NSSF has expanded its retirement savings options to allow Kenyans without formal employment to contribute towards their pension.Those interested can register as Voluntary NSSF Members and make contributions directly through mobile money.Members can contribute Ksh200 monthly or Ksh4,800 annually. NSSF also offers the Haba Haba na NSSF programme, which allows members to save flexibly on a daily basis, starting from Ksh25.
Read briefing There was panic at Tengecha Boys High School in Kericho on the evening of Sunday, October 4, after a fire engulfed one of the institution's main dormitories.Reports reaching Kenyans.co.ke indicate that the fire broke out late in the afternoon on the second floor of the building before quickly spreading across the floor.Thick smoke could be seen rising from the school as the blaze intensified, prompting an emergency response from students, members of staff and residents from the surrounding community.Residents rushed to the school shortly after the fire was reported and joined students and staff in efforts to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading to other buildings.Images and videos from the scene showed members of the local community helping to fight the fire as efforts were made to bring the situation under control.The blaze proved difficult to contain at some point as flames spread across the affected floor of the dormitory.Efforts by the students, staff and residents eventually helped contain the fire before it could spread to other sections of the institution.The fire left the second floor of the dormitory severely damaged, with windows and other infrastructure appearing extensively destroyedAt the time of this publication, there were no indications of any injuries to learners from the blaze. The cause of the fire is also unknown even as investigations are expected to establish the actual cause. This was yet another incident which added to a worrying trend among Kenyan High Schools, which have been plagued by fire incidents in recent months.In particular, incidents of dormitory fires tend to spike towards the end of the school term, with education stakeholders speculating that the trend could be linked to end-of-term assessments.Weeks earlier, on August 26, a fire broke out in Kirwara Boys High School in Gatanga, Murang’a County, which also razed down a school bus which was parked nearby.
Read briefing Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has announced plans to rebrand The Equitable Party (TEP) to the Linda Mwananchi Movement ahead of the 2027 General Election.Speaking during the unveiling of the TEP Party on Sunday, October 4, in Nairobi, Sifuna said the proposed change had been agreed upon by the movement's principals and supporters who had helped build its political identity."So, in the coming days, and as has been resolved by the principles of Linda Mwanaichi, who you see here, we shall be seeking to rebrand this party, the equitable party, to the Linda Mwanaichi movement," Sifuna stated.He, however, warned that the party would retain the TEP name if further obstacles were placed in the path of the rebranding process. Sifuna said the party would continue under its current identity until the 2027 ballot if the name-change bid failed.“I want to make it clear that in the event that more obstacles are put in the path of rebranding this party, called The Equitable Party, as we have experienced in the past, the party will continue with its present identity until the ballots are cast in 2027,” he added.He said the party envisions a Kenya where leadership is a responsibility and public resources are a public trust, with problems addressed through democratic institutions and within the law.The road to the new name has been bumpy, starting with the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP), which rejected the movement's application to reserve the name.The promoters, including the MP for Suba South Constituency Caroli Omondi, were told the name raised public interest concerns and clashed with the acronym of the inactive Liberty National Democratic Alliance (LINDA).Rival claims added to the pressure, including Charles Wanyonyi's Linda Mwananchi Party of Kenya, with his February 2026 application creating fresh administrative hurdles even after the tribunal's decision.On September 30, 2026, the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT) set aside the rejection, calling it unconstitutional and noting the LINDA reservation had lapsed.The tribunal ordered action within seven days, and on October 1, Registrar John Cox Lorionokou wrote to Bansbury Associates Advocates, approving the name's reservation for up to 90 days.Earlier attempts to use the United Democratic Party (UDP) met factional resistance and complaints before the Tribunal, and Sifuna said the focus was on protecting the Linda Mwananchi brand.That whatsoever, the Kakamega Governor, Boni Khalwale revealed that the Linda Mwananchi movement deliberately floated several political parties as "decoys" to confuse President William Ruto's camp and protect Sifuna's 2027 presidential vehicle.
Read briefing The Registrar of Companies has dissolved 440 companies operating across various sectors of the economy, with their names struck off the official Register of Companies.The mass deregistration was published through a Gazette Notice dated October 4, 2026, removing the affected entities from the official business register.“PURSUANT to section 894 (5) of the Companies Act, it is notified for the information of the general public that the following companies have been dissolved and their names struck off the Register of Companies with effect from the date of this publication,” the notice stated in part.A breakdown of the affected firms shows that the construction and real estate sector is the hardest hit, with more than 80 companies struck off the list.The transport and logistics industry is closely watched, with more than 60 firms facing closure for failing to meet regulatory obligations.Agribusiness and manufacturing are also significantly affected, with over 50 companies in each category facing dissolution.On the other hand, the hospitality and tourism sector has not been spared, as more than 40 hotels, lodges, and tour operators are set to close their doors.Financial services, including investment groups and microfinance institutions, account for the bulk of the dissolved entities, while retail and wholesale trade, technology, and professional services make up the remaining companies on the registrar's list.In 2026 alone, the Registrar of Companies has struck off over 2,200 companies through multiple mass deregistration and dissolution sweeps nationwide.Key waves include over 120 companies in January, more than 1,300 in April, 46 in early May, another 501 by late May, and over 284 in August.The dissolutions come against a challenging employment environment, particularly for young Kenyans, with data from the Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE) reporting that youth aged 15 to 34 face an effective unemployment or profound underutilisation rate reaching up to 67 per cent when informal work is considered.More than one million people join the job market annually, while the national unemployment rate currently stands at approximately 5.5 per cent. Among young people aged 15 to 24, the unemployment rate stands at 15.25 per cent.
Read briefing Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr has renewed calls for the government to expedite the dualling of the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway following a fatal accident at Salama that claimed the lives of 17 pilgrims.In a statement shared on Sunday, 4 October, Mutula Jr said the government needed to take urgent measures to improve safety along the highway, warning that more lives could be lost if action was delayed.He also called on the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) to address safety concerns at Salama, citing interventions previously undertaken at the Salgaa and Nithi Bridge sections.“The loss of 17 lives is a stark reminder that more must be done to protect motorists, passengers, pedestrians, and all other road users,” Mutula Jr stated.“The National Government must now urgently address the dualling of the Mombasa-Nairobi Highway and ensure that the Kenya National Highways Authority takes decisive measures to address the Salama area, just as was done in the Salgaa and Nithi Bridge sections, before we lose more lives.”The dualling of the 461-kilometre Nairobi-Mombasa Highway has stalled for nearly a decade, even after plans were announced in 2017 to award the construction tender to an American company.The National Treasury and the Public-Private Partnership Committee later rejected and terminated the Ksh468 billion Usahihi Expressway, proposed by Everstrong Capital, citing high costs and fiscal risk exposure.The greenfield proposal would have built a new expressway, but the government has now dropped it in favor of upgrading the existing Nairobi-Mombasa Highway, also known as the A8.The Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary, Davis Chirchir, on March 18 confirmed that the government is progressing with plans to dual the highway, which remains a high-priority project.Appearing before the Senate on the very same date, CS Chirchir said the development phase will start once the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) assessment report, now in its final stages following many stakeholder meetings, is complete.The plans also include KeNHA pursuing a brownfield model to widen the A8 into a tolled, access-controlled dual carriageway with at least four lanes, to reduce congestion on the busy road.The agency began procuring a transaction advisor in mid-year to structure the new expansion model, and the first implementation phases are already underway.Meanwhile, the government will support the 17 victims' families with burial expenses and the transport of bodies, as confirmed by Jomvu MP Badi Twalib, after conveying President William Ruto's pledge at St Mathias Mulumba Parish in Mikindani on Sunday. The state is also set to commence a postmortem for the victims, whose results are set to be released to the public in due time.
Read briefing Nairobi Senator and Linda Mwananchi Movement (LMM) leader Edwin Sifuna has been handed The Equitable Party (TEP) as the political vehicle for his 2027 presidential bid.In an event held in Nairobi on Sunday, October 4, Sifuna formally unveiled the political vehicle as he seeks to consolidate his presidential bid ahead of the 2027 polls.According to TEP party Leader Gilbert Marava, Sifuna will be the party's leader and will run for the presidency on TEP's ticket."On our end, we have decided to restructure, and in the process, those who registered will stay, and we will bring in our brothers," Marava stated."Sifuna is going to run for president, and he will be the next leader of The Equittable Party (TEP)," he added.TEP was officially registered as a political party in March 2022, with its head office located along Mtito Andei Road, off Lenana Road, Nairobi.Its colours include gold and emerald with a symbol of a weighing scale, which aligns with the party's ideological focus on fairness, equality, and social justice.The party uses Tusawazishe, a Swahili slogan which translates to let us make it equal or let's balance.The Equitable Party will be among the parties under the Linda Mwnanchi Movement coalition of parties.
Read briefing A Kenyan woman was rescued from a suspected prostitution racket in Patna, India, on Saturday, October 3.The Kenyan was rescued during a night operation in the Danapur subdivision, about 14 kilometres west of central Patna.Patna is the capital of Bihar, a state in eastern India, located about 1,000 kilometres from Mumbai.According to reports from India, the Kenyan was among three women rescued during raids at two hotels in the area.Kenyans.co.ke has learnt that police confiscated copies of the Kenyan woman’s passport to verify her details after rescuing her from the first hotel.During a second raid, police rescued two other women and seized two mobile phones, objectionable items and the hotel register.Police said they were examining the phones and hotel records to identify intermediaries and other people allegedly involved in the prostitution racket.Two hotel managers were arrested during the operation, according to The Times of India.The Kenyan woman was placed in protective custody as investigations into the alleged racket continued, according to reports from India.Authorities said diplomatic and consular protocols would be followed as investigators expanded their inquiry into the hotels and their records.The rescue comes amid concerns over the trafficking of Kenyan women to Asia, with some victims reportedly being lured by fake overseas job advertisements posted online, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.Reports indicate that traffickers sometimes take victims to India using short-term tourist or medical visas. Kenyan authorities have previously warned about fraudulent overseas job offers used to lure people into trafficking networks.
Read briefing The Employment and Labour Relations Court in Nairobi has ruled that employees in supervisory positions can be held responsible for operational failures committed by staff under their watch. The court found that a team leader at a banking institution, who was dismissed after a high-value transaction error, had a greater duty to verify the payment before approving it and could not shift responsibility to other team members. According to court documents obtained by Kenyans.co.ke, the dispute arose from a 2015 transaction in which Ksh48.18 million was erroneously transferred after the team leader incorrectly interpreted the details and validated the payment without completing the required verification checks.“The claimant was therefore found negligent in her duties as team leader, whose role was to validate each transaction to avoid losses to the respondent bank,” the judgement stated.The employee had moved to court after being dismissed, arguing that several officers were involved in processing the transaction and that another staff member had admitted responsibility for the error. She also told the court that she acted promptly after discovering the mistake, reporting it and initiating steps to recover the funds. Despite this, the court held that her position as team leader placed the greater responsibility on her to ensure the transaction was properly verified before it was released. “The claimant cannot blame her colleagues in the back office for not verifying the forex transaction before she approved and validated it. As the team leader, the greatest responsibility was with her,” the judgement added.The judgment found that the employer had a valid reason to terminate her employment and had followed the required disciplinary process before dismissing her.The judge also rejected the employee’s claim for compensation, notice pay and severance after finding that the dismissal was lawful and that severance did not apply to the case.Further, the court ruled that the employee was no longer entitled to preferential staff loan terms after her employment ended and allowed the employer’s counterclaim for Ksh9.78 million, which was the outstanding loan balance as of September 2022. The ruling signals a warning to senior employees that responsibility for checking, approving and monitoring their teams’ work can have direct consequences when operational failures result in financial loss.
Read briefing Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba has announced changes to the councils of six universities, appointing new members to oversee the institutions.In a gazette notice dated Friday, October 2, Ogamba appointed Evelyne Kyendo to the Turkana University College Council for a three-year term, effective immediately.The CS also appointed Lazarus Kipichii Tanui to the Machakos University Council for a three-year term while revoking Mercy Kanyara’s previous appointment with immediate effect.“In exercise of the powers conferred by section 36 (1) (d) of the Universities Act, the Cabinet Secretary for Education appoints Lazarus Tanui to be a Member of the Council of Machakos University for three years. The appointment of Mercy Kanyara is revoked,” the notice read.Kanyara was appointed to the Machakos University Council on January 26, 2024, by then-Education CS Ezekiel Machogu for a three-year term.However, despite the revocation, Ogamba later appointed Kanyara to the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) Council for another three-year term, effective October 2.At Kenyatta University, Ogamba appointed Wilson Kipruto Ronno as a member of the university council for three years, effective immediately.At the same time, he announced the reappointment of John Kamanga Ole Ntetiyan to the council of Koitaleel Samoei University College for another three years.In the raft of changes, the CS also appointed AbdiHakim Guhad Gabow to be a member of the Dedan Kimathi University of Technology council for a three-year term effective immediately.The changes come as the Education Ministry continues to streamline leadership of university councils, which are responsible for providing oversight and governance at the institutions.Ogamba's appointments were among several changes made by Cabinet Secretaries as they seek to enhance service delivery in their various ministries.As part of the changes, Trade CS Lee Kinyanjui re-appointed Neddy Jeruto Kiptoo as a member of the Board of Directors of the Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA) for three years.Similarly, East African Community and Regional Development CS Beatrice Askul appointed Fardosa Ahmed Warsame to the National Drought Management Authority board for three years.On the other hand, Water Sanitation CS Eric Mugaa also appointed Josephine Koisaba as a member of the Water Services Regulatory Board with immediate effect.Meanwhile, Sports CS Salim Mvurya re-appointed Lucia Nzoongo to the board of the Kenya Film Commission for another three-year term.
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