The Government has stepped up preparedness measures ahead of the October-November-December (OND) 2026 rainy season, amid anticipated El Niño conditions. 18 counties have been placed on high alert over the risk of heavy rains, expected to begin in the second or third week of October and extend into January 2027. Government spokesperson Charles Owino is urging Kenyans to remain vigilant and take early precautionary measures to protect lives, property and livelihoods. Addressing the media, Owino outlined measures being implemented to mitigate the effects of heavy rains. He said relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies, working together with County Governments, humanitarian organisations and development partners, have strengthened multi-agency preparedness and response mechanisms. He added that risk assessments have been conducted to identify vulnerable and flood-prone areas, while emergency response measures and early-warning communication systems have been strengthened. “The Government is particularly alert to the possibility of heavy rainfall in some areas, which may lead to flooding, landslides, disruption of transport and essential services, damage to infrastructure and displacement of vulnerable households,” he said. Owino assured the public that the Kenya Meteorological Department will continue to monitor the evolving weather situation and issue forecasts and advisories...
Read briefing President William Ruto will attend the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York next week to advance Kenya’s interests on UN reforms, peace and security, climate finance, digital cooperation, and economic diplomacy. Principal Secretary (PS) for Foreign Affairs, Dr Korir Sing’oei, said the decision followed extensive consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the President’s office since July, given the significance of this year’s assembly. “We are very happy to announce that the President agreed to attend this UNGA,” Dr Sing’oei said, adding that the President will spend four days engaging with world leaders. The 81st UNGA, themed ‘Restoring Trust and Managing Transformation: A United Nations that Delivers for All’, comes at a time when the global system is undergoing significant changes, with the agenda focusing on peace and security, acceleration of the Sustainable Development Goals, climate resilience, human rights, digital governance, artificial intelligence (AI) and UN reform. Speaking during a media briefing in Nairobi, Dr. Sing’oei insisted that Kenya’s representation at presidential level was important because issues including debt sustainability, climate finance, digital trade, and regional security would feature prominently in high-level negotiations. Additionally, he mentioned that Kenya would also use the assembly to advance Africa’s po...
Read briefing President William Ruto has urged his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta to stop sabotaging the Government of Kenya. The President told the retired leader that it is unpresidential for a former head of State to undermine the Government that he once led, saying that is the role of a rebel leader like Ugandan Joseph Kony. Kony is a fugitive Ugandan warlord and founder of the Lord’s Resistance Army, a rebel group notorious for decades of extreme violence and human rights abuses. The President also hit out at Mr Kenyatta for funding the opposition to wreck his Government Saying he is not seeking the support of the former President even though he supported him in four elections – in 2002, 2013 and 2017 twice – President Ruto said Mr Kenyatta should stop frustrating the Government’s efforts to transform Kenya. Speaking at Sindo in Suba South Constituency, Homa Bay County, on Thursday, the final day of his development tour of Nyanza, he pointed out that the economy the former President “left in tatters” has been now stabilised. “You left the economy in tatters, but we have stabilised it,” the President said. He told Mr Kenyatta that he failed to deliver on roads, healthcare, affordable housing and education while in Government, but was now using political allies to oppose the same programmes President Ruto’s administration is implementing effectively. “The housing programme that you failed to...
Read briefing Plans to commemorate the first anniversary of the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga are gathering pace. The family has set October 10 to 17 as the tentative dates for the main commemorative activities and is inviting individuals, organisations and institutions to submit proposals on how they wish to remember the former Prime Minister. Speaking at Capitol Hill on Thursday, Raila’s widow Mama Ida Odinga said the celebrations will bring together Kenyans from different political and social backgrounds. She revealed that the family has constituted a national steering committee chaired by Prof Adams Oloo and deputised by MP Otiende Amollo to the coordinate activities of the anniversary. “These celebrations do not belong to the committee; they belong to the people. Baba’s people are all welcome. We know many Kenyans did not have an opportunity to mourn him in the way they wished,” said Mama Ida. Prof Oloo urged individuals, organisations and institutions to write to the committee outlining how they would like to participate. “This celebration has to be national; it knows no religion, it has no boundary. It has to reflect what Baba was,” Oloo said. The family-led programme will run alongside activities announced by the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) under its “Mwezi wa Baba” programme. ODM has dedicated October to commemorating its founder, with activities beginning with a...
Read briefing Milk processors are calling on retailers across the country not to take advantage of the current milk shortage to increase prices and exploit consumers. The processors say milk sold in shops and supermarkets should continue retailing at between Ksh.55 and Ksh.60 per litre, despite the challenges being experienced in the dairy sector. The Chairperson of Dairy Processors in Kenya and Chief Executive Officer of Meru Dairy Cooperative Union, Kenneth Gitonga, has urged milk retailers to maintain reasonable prices, warning against exploiting consumers at a time when many households are already facing increased costs of living. Gitonga says the current shortage of milk is largely attributed to prolonged drought, which has affected dairy farmers and reduced the availability of animal feed and water. He says the decline in milk production has consequently affected supplies to processors and retailers, creating pressure in the market. However, Gitonga says there are indications that the situation could improve with the onset of the expected El Niño rains. He projects that milk supplies will begin stabilizing before the end of October, provided the rains are sufficient and farmers are able to restore pasture and increase access to fodder and water for their livestock. The dairy sector has in recent months faced challenges linked to changing weather patterns, with farmers struggling to mai...
Read briefing More than 300 policymakers, regulators, institutional investors, development finance leaders and market practitioners from over 20 African countries are gathering in Nairobi this week for the third Sustainable Capital Markets Conference, organised by FSD Africa and partners. The conference comes at a pivotal moment as African countries seek to mobilise domestic capital to finance development priorities, with overseas funding drying up, slowing foreign investment and mounting fiscal pressures. The shift of focus to domestic capital markets is also informed by low market activity, with fewer than half of African countries having seen a domestic firm issue a corporate bond since 2000. Whereas the continent’s domestic equity markets have grown 27-fold since 2000 to USD 561 billion, its share of global capital market activity has declined, indicating that its growth is not keeping pace internationally. With African institutional investors now managing an estimated US$4 trillion across pension funds, insurance companies, banks and sovereign wealth funds, discussions will focus on how to channel greater volumes of domestic capital into productive sectors that support economic growth, resilience and job creation. Despite significant financing needs, only 2.7% of institutional assets are currently invested in infrastructure and other productive sectors across the continent. The conferen...
Read briefing Kenya’s Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Peter Tum, has been cleared of a KSh1.84 million surcharge over an irregular appointment made during his tenure as Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) Chief Executive Officer in 2015. In its judgment, the State Corporations Appeal Tribunal allowed Tum’s appeal and quashed the Certificate of Surcharge requiring him to pay KSh1,837,355. The Tribunal’s determination centred on whether the envoy could be held personally responsible for a Board decision that resulted in the appointment of Dr. Miriam Ndunge Muthoka as KMTC Corporation Secretary. It, however, found that Tum, the immediate former Principal Secretary, State Department for Sports, was not part of the Board deliberations when the decision was made. According to the judgment, Tum had left the Board meeting before the matter concerning the appointment of the Corporation Secretary was discussed because he was conflicted, having been a candidate for the CEO position. His deputy, John O. Anyira, replaced him for the remainder of the meeting. The Tribunal examined the minutes of the meeting and found that they confirmed Tum had stepped out and did not return before the Board made the decision to appoint Muthoka. It further found that there was no evidence showing that Tum participated in the deliberations or resolution that resulted in Muthoka’s appointment. The Tr...
Read briefing At least five people, including two police officers, have been killed in an ambush by suspected bandits in Gotu area, Isiolo County. Police confirmed that the victims were ambushed by the assailants on Wednesday morning during an operation to track and recover stolen livestock. The fallen officers were drawn from the Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU) and the National Police Reservist (NPR). Isiolo County Police Commander Isaac Sang said the incident followed an earlier attack in which a man was killed after he reportedly lost his way while returning home on Tuesday evening. According to Sang, the man, who was reportedly mentally unstable, got lost in the thickets and was cornered and killed by suspected attackers believed to be from neighbouring Samburu County. His relatives reported the incident at the ASTU police post in Gotu on Wednesday morning and sought police assistance to search for and recover his body. Sang said it was during the recovery operation that the attackers ambushed the officers and local residents, opening fire and killing two police officers, one National Police Reservist and one other man, bringing the death toll to five. Sang has urged residents to remain calm as police intensify efforts to pursue the attackers using armoured vehicles. He said all the bodies had been retrieved from the thicket by Wednesday afternoon. The latest ambush followed a separate catt...
Read briefing Absa Bank Kenya has congratulated Athletics Kenya, the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports, and the generations of Kenyan athletes whose achievements have helped secure Nairobi’s successful bid to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships. According to Absa, this milestone reflects decades of athletic excellence and affirms Kenya’s standing among the world’s leading athletics nations and a recognition of the country’s enduring contribution to global athletics, the dedication of generations of athletes, coaches, and support teams, and the leadership of Athletics Kenya in advancing the sport on the global stage. Kenya won the bid to host the global showpiece after beating strong bids from the cities of Rome in Italy and London in the UK, while Munich was awarded the 2031 edition. The bank has invested close to KES 2 billion in the Kenyan sports ecosystem, which includes being the title sponsor of the Absa Kip Keino Classic, a World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meeting that has helped demonstrate Nairobi’s capacity to deliver world-class athletics events for a record six editions. Absa also supports the globally acclaimed Absa Sirikwa Classic Cross Country, a World Athletics Gold Level Cross Country Tour event that is held at the Lobo Village in Eldoret. Speaking on the historic milestone, Absa Bank Kenya Marketing and Corporate Affairs Director Mwihaki Wac...
Read briefing The Parliament of Kenya, in partnership with the Canadian High Commission in Kenya and the Inclusive Legislatures for Gender Responsive Policies (ILGRP) Project, will host a two-day Regional Forum to advance gender-responsive lawmaking and budgeting, promote equitable governance and strengthen accountability. The forum, scheduled for 23rd–24th September 2026, will bring together Members of Parliament, international delegates, senior administrators, Human Resource Directors, and Civil Society representatives from Kenya, Ghana and Togo. The project, funded by Global Affairs Canada and implemented by the African Centre for Parliamentary Affairs (ACEPA) and the Parliamentary Centre (PC), is the last regional forum of the ILGRP Project, marking the conclusion of the four-year initiative. It will be held under the theme, “Sharing Achievements and Advancing Forward-Looking Gender-Responsive and Inclusive Parliaments,” and is expected to enhance legislative oversight, citizen engagement, development and refinement of policies, tools and manuals. The Regional Dialogue will provide a platform for a multi-country knowledge exchange highlighting actionable insights, proven methodologies and lessons learnt by the aforementioned legislatures. Participants are set to engage in interactive roundtables, share perspectives on strategic alignment, examine good practices, common challenges and cri...
Read briefing UK sports retailer Sports Direct has launched its first African store in Kenya, focusing on partnerships with local athletes and federations to cultivate sporting talent. During the launch on Tuesday at the Sarit Centre, 2023, 800m World champion Mary Moraa praised the initiative, noting that it will significantly support both emerging and non-contracted athletes. Moraa, who has spent the past year away from competition recovering from injury, says she is excited to return to the sport she loves and begin the journey towards another major global campaign. “I’m very happy to be back. I have missed competing, I have missed the atmosphere and, most importantly, I have missed representing Kenya,” Moraa said. “I want to give myself the best preparation possible and be ready when the big moment comes.” Moraa also shared that she has resumed training following a lengthy injury layoff as she prepares for next year’s World Athletics Championships in Beijing, China. “The journey back has not been easy, but it has made me appreciate the sport even more. I have learnt to be patient, to trust the process and to keep working even when nobody is watching.” “My focus now is to get back to competition, take things step by step and build towards the World Championships,” she said. The new store offers Kenyan consumers an expanded selection of sportswear and equipment from major international bra...
Read briefing A former Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) official has been sentenced to 11 years for fraudulently acquiring public property and uttering false documents after using forged academic papers to secure employment at the company. Mr. David Mogire Nyabuti was found guilty of using a forged Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) certificate and result slip to gain admission to the Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) Training School, now known as the Institute of Energy Studies and Research, and subsequently secure employment at KenGen. The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) said it investigated the matter and established that Nyabuti had presented a forged KCSE certificate and result slip as genuine documents issued by the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC). He later used the documents to secure employment at KenGen, where he received salaries and benefits amounting to Ksh14,946,118.82 between August 2003 and September 2018. He was charged before the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court on 13 June 2025 with five counts, including fraudulent acquisition of public property, two counts of forgery and two counts of uttering false documents. The Anti-Corruption Court found Nyabuti guilty of fraudulent acquisition of public property and ordered him to pay Ksh14,946,118 in compensation to the Government, in default, to serve five years in prison. He was...
Read briefing The European Union is exploring partnering with the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation to strengthen the operations of the state broadcaster. The proposed areas of cooperation include the digitisation of KBC’s archives, technical support and capacity building for journalists. European Union Ambassador to Kenya Andreas Peschke said the collaboration would also seek to enhance KBC’s coverage of the 2027 General Election by strengthening its capacity to provide voters with accurate and credible information while addressing emerging challenges, including misinformation and disinformation. Peschke spoke during his first courtesy visit to KBC Managing Director Agnes Kalekye, where he said the proposed cooperation builds on the long-standing relationship between KBC and European institutions. With the 2027 General Election approaching, the Ambassador said the partnership could play a pivotal role in strengthening public broadcasting at a time when the media is likely to come under increased scrutiny. “The media space is very contested in open societies, particularly during election times. It is very important for public broadcasters like KBC, as well as sister organisations within the European Union, to remain strong and credible voices for objective and trusted information. That is very important in order to have a process that people can trust”, he observed. According to the KBC Managin...
Read briefing Kenya is set to receive 10 specialised mother-and-child hospitals under a $35 million (Ksh 4.52 billion) grant from Amsons Group, creating a new test for how privately financed infrastructure can support the country’s public healthcare system. Construction has begun on the first facility, a 250-bed Level 4 hospital in Chebunyo, Bomet County. The hospital is planned to include maternity suites, operating theatres, neonatal intensive-care services, and facilities for antenatal, delivery and postnatal care. President William Ruto said the financing would not create a repayment obligation for the government. “This facility is a grant from Amsons. It’s not a loan, and that’s the value of friendship,” Ruto said. Under the arrangement, Amsons will construct and equip the hospitals before handing them over to Kenyan authorities. The government will then be responsible for staffing, medicines, maintenance and day-to-day operations. That division of responsibility is central to the programme. While the grant covers the initial cost of construction and equipment, the government will still need to finance the recurring costs required to operate the facilities, including healthcare workers, medicines, utilities, maintenance and other services. Amsons Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Edha Nahdi said the company wanted the programme to move from agreements to completed proj...
Read briefing For 15 years, Kalonzo Musyoka’s political bargain at the national table was simple: deliver Ukambani as a bloc, and demand a top seat in return. That bargain helped deliver him the Vice Presidency, two runs as Raila Odinga’s running mate, and the title of Ukambani kingpin. But in 2027, the question is whether Kalonzo still controls enough of the region to use it as a bargaining chip. Developments in Kitui, Makueni and Machakos suggest that the old bloc is beginning to fragment. The national squeeze After Raila Odinga’s death, Kalonzo appeared positioned to inherit the opposition mantle and enter 2027 as the leading alternative to President William Ruto. Instead, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has built a powerful anti-government movement, while former ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna has emerged as a strong urban and youth opposition voice. Kalonzo is therefore no longer the automatic heir to Raila’s political space. That weakness is increasingly being tested at home. Three challengers, three different offers In Kitui, NLP Party Leader Dr. Augustus Kyalo Muli is pushing an Empowerment Model built around youth, women, boda boda riders, enterprise training and market access. His strategy is simple: empower people at the grassroots rather than ask them to wait for political change from Nairobi. In Makueni, Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse is offering a different propositi...
Read briefing President William Ruto has announced a Ksh23 billion road investment for Kisumu County as part of efforts to expand connectivity and open up new opportunities for trade and economic activity. Speaking during the second day of his development tour of Nyanza, Ruto said the funding will support the construction of eight roads covering 270 kilometres across the county. He said the projects will improve connectivity within Kisumu and neighbouring counties, including through the Chemelil-Muhoroni/Junction road, which will strengthen links between Kisumu and Kericho and improve access to markets for farmers and traders. “Kisumu County will not be left behind in our infrastructure transformation plan,” he stated. Ruto inspected ongoing works on the Chemelil-Muhoroni/Junction road, a Ksh5.7 billion project forming part of the wider Ksh15.7 billion Kisumu-Chemelil-Muhoroni-Kipsitet road upgrade being implemented in three phases. In Nyando Constituency, the President launched construction of the 12-kilometre Rabuor-Chiga road at a cost of Ksh962 million. The road will provide an alternative link between Kondele and the Kisumu-Ahero road at Rabuor Market. Ruto also commissioned the Ksh8.4 billion Lake Victoria Water and Sanitation Project in Kisumu City, which will connect an additional 53,000 households to reliable water and 23,000 to sewerage services. The project will more than double s...
Read briefing The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) is calling for early measures to prevent election-related conflict as Kenya prepares for the 2027 General Election. NCIC Chairperson Bishop Dr. Kepha Omae says the 2027 polls present an opportunity for the country to demonstrate that peace is critical to a functioning democracy. “The 2027 General Election gives us an opportunity to demonstrate that peace is a critical enabler of democracy. We must choose prevention over reaction and national unity over political expediency. Let us sustain peace before, during and long after the elections,” said Dr. Omae. Omae also urged political leaders and their supporters to avoid rhetoric that could divide communities during campaigns, calling for political competition to focus on policies and ideas. “Criticize policies, not communities. Challenge ideas, not identities. Let every campaign season be a contest of vision, not a contest of division,” said Dr. Omae. Omae spoke in Nairobi on Monday as NCIC brought together national stakeholders for the two-day Amani Conference to assess and strengthen measures for peaceful elections. His sentiments were echoed by Police Deputy Inspector General Gilbert Masengeli, who called for collaboration among stakeholders to ensure a peaceful election. “Security starts with you. A peaceful election cannot be secured by security agencies alone; it requir...
Read briefing Menengai Oilers were crowned Christie 7s champions on Sunday, beating Strathmore Leos in a final that few had predicted at the start of the weekend, capping a tournament defined by shock results at the RFUEA Grounds. The two sides had booked their place in the showpiece match by knocking out the circuit’s traditional heavyweights in Saturday’s semi-finals. Strathmore Leos struck first, edging out KCB 19-12 in a tense last-four clash. The students held their composure at the crucial moments to deny the Bankers, who had travelled to the tournament chasing both the Christie 7s title and the overall SportPesa National Sevens Circuit crown, a spot in the final. Menengai Oilers matched that result blow for blow, seeing off Kabras Sugar in an equally stunning last-four upset. Kabras needed a title run to keep their circuit hopes alive heading into the weekend, but the Oilers’ disciplined performance ended that bid and sent shockwaves through the tournament. With both form sides out of the way, Sunday’s final belonged to the outsiders. Menengai Oilers got the better of Strathmore Leos to lift the Christie 7s trophy, rounding off a weekend in which the script was rewritten twice over by two sides who had entered the tournament with little expectation attached to their names. While the final provided the headline act, the third-place play-off carried its own significance. KCB and Kabras...
Read briefing A total of 186 men and women from Rendille communities in Marsabit County have graduated from the Rendille Adult Literacy Programme, marking another milestone in a programme that has provided adult education for more than three decades. The programme, implemented by Tirrim Trust, was started in 1992 to give adults who had never had an opportunity to attend school a chance to acquire basic literacy and numeracy skills. Speaking during the graduation ceremony at AIC Korr Church, Tirrim Trust Director David Gargule said the programme is uniquely designed to take education closer to the nomadic pastoralist community, with classes often held under trees and in remote villages. “For more than 30 years, we have shown that education does not need walls to change lives. Sometimes, a tree, a teacher, a book and a determined learner are enough,” said Gargule. The learners undergo two years of basic literacy in the Rendille language, followed by two years of post-literacy education in Kiswahili. The programme also covers areas such as Mathematics, Health, Geography and Religion. The Director said the programme has gone beyond teaching people how to read and write, with graduates gaining confidence and applying their knowledge in their families, businesses and communities. For the graduates, the ceremony was a moment of pride and renewed confidence. Many said learning as adults had changed...
Read briefing This week I moderate a panel at the National Credit Market Convention in Naivasha. The topic is AI in credit scoring. The room will hold banks, SACCOs, digital lenders, a rating agency and a credit bureau. Here is the fact the room has to start from: the machine is already making the decision. Kenya’s 256 licensed digital credit providers have disbursed 8.37 million loans worth over Ksh150 billion. No credit officer read 8.37 million applications. Models did. The question is not whether Kenya should allow AI in lending. That train left years ago. The question is what rules the models answer to. Five weeks ago, the European Union answered it. On 2 August 2026 the operational provisions of the EU AI Act came into force. The Act puts credit scoring of individuals on its list of high-risk uses, next to medical devices and hiring. High-risk does not mean banned. It means priced. A lender using an AI scoring system in Europe must document how the model was built, test it for bias, log its decisions, keep a human able to intervene, and submit it for assessment before it touches a customer. The top penalty for getting this wrong is 7 percent of global turnover. Read that list again. Nothing in it stops a lender from using AI. Everything in it makes the lender able to answer one question: why did this customer get a no? Europe got one thing wrong, and Kenya should not copy it. The EU pu...
Read briefing Uganda’s King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, once the world’s youngest reigning monarch, was buried on Saturday, days after a row broke out over who would succeed him. Oyo, 34, who had ruled the traditional kingdom of Tooro in western Uganda since the age of three, died last month while undergoing cancer treatment in the US. Tooro is one of Uganda’s traditional kingdoms. They were abolished in 1967 but restored in the 1990s under President Museveni. Their monarchs are recognised as cultural leaders rather than political rulers. Thousands of mourners lined the streets as the king’s casket was transported to the royal tombs in Fort Portal where a private ceremony took place. Oyo was just a toddler when he was named as Tooro’s king and, according to Guinness World Records, was the world’s youngest monarch while he reigned. TV news presenter Prince Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma, 56, who was named as the next monarch by clan elders, reportedly cast nine coffee beans into Oyo’s grave, a ritual signifying the end of one reign and the start of another. But days earlier, Oyo’s family rejected Kijanangoma, the late monarch’s cousin, as Tooro’s new king. Oyo’s sister, Princess Ruth Komuntale, said the late king had left a will, written in 2022, naming his young son as his successor. The boy’s identity has never been disclosed. Meanwhile, his mother, Queen Best Kemigisa, said royal guards...
Read briefing President Xi Jinping is calling for stronger unity among BRICS nations as the Global South pushes for a greater voice in shaping the global order. Speaking at the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, President Xi challenged the grouping to become a pioneering force for innovation, peace, cooperation and global governance reform. President Xi said the world is undergoing profound changes, with emerging economies gaining influence and the push towards a multipolar world becoming increasingly evident. He urged BRICS countries to take the lead in emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, calling for greater openness, collaboration and sharing in AI development. China also proposed a BRICS initiative on AI-empowered new industrialization, aimed at deepening cooperation in research, applications and industrial supply chains. On peace and security, President Xi called for an end to bloc confrontation and interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states, while urging BRICS to play a constructive role in resolving global conflicts, including tensions in the Middle East. He also called for deeper people-to-people exchanges through culture, tourism and education, saying greater mutual understanding can strengthen relations among nations. On global governance, President Xi urged BRICS to push for a more just and equitable international system, uphold the authority of...
Read briefing A new specialised eye hospital has opened in Kisumu, bringing optical, general and specialised eye-care services closer to patients in Nyanza, Western Kenya and the wider East African region. The Lions SightFirst Eye Hospital Kisumu was officially commissioned on Saturday by Kisumu Governor Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o, who said the facility would help address the region’s need for specialised eye-care services. The facility offers optical and general eye-care services, as well as specialised and surgical procedures, expanding the range of treatment available to patients in the region. Prof Nyong’o described the hospital as one of the largest and most comprehensive eye-care facilities in the region, saying its opening would help restore sight and hope to thousands of people. He said many patients who previously had to travel long distances to seek specialised treatment would now be able to access services closer to home. “No longer must our people travel to Nairobi … at great costs and delay to find help. The help has come to our doorstep,” Prof Nyong’o said during the commissioning. The governor said the facility would help patients regain their independence and return to productive lives. “Today, Lions Club has given Kisumu more than a hospital,” he said. “You have given our people the possibility of seeing their children again, returning to work, reading, working independently, and...
Read briefing Nairobi lawyer Danstan Omari has urged former Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i to withdraw his presidential aspirations and instead support President William Ruto’s bid for a second term. Omari asserts that the Jubilee presidential hopeful lacks the necessary political backing and voter numbers to secure the presidency. Omari said Matiang’i’s political fortunes had weakened significantly, claiming that former President Uhuru Kenyatta, whom he described as Matiang’i’s primary political sponsor, has now transferred his support to Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna of the Linda Mwananchi movement. “Ukweli ni kwamba Rais Mstaafu Uhuru Kenyatta ametoka kwa Matiang’i, na sasa ako kwa upande wa Edwin Sifuna. Tusidanganyane, Matiang’i yuko pweke,” Omari said. During an interview, he claimed that Matiang’i no longer commanded the national political machinery he once possessed. “Nguvu alizokuwa nazo za kutembea taifa lote haziko. Nguvu zake za kisiasa zimeisha,” he said. Omari challenged Matiang’i and other presidential hopefuls from the Gusii community to demonstrate their national appeal, questioning whether they have managed to mobilise substantial crowds beyond the Kisii region. “Show me even one single rally the two have called outside Kisii land that has attracted a population of over 500 people. Who will vote for them?” he asked. The lawyer argued that presidential politics was about na...
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