NAIROBI, Kenya Sep 4 – Kenya’s public workforce has crossed the 1 million mark and reached 1.07 million employees, piling pressure on the government’s wage bill as the cost of running the public service continues to rise.New figures contained in the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) Fourth Quarter Wage Bill Bulletin for the 2025/2026 financial year show that public sector employment grew by 4.6 per cent in 2025, from 1.023 million workers in 2024 to 1.07 million.The growth was driven largely by increased hiring in key sectors, with education, public administration and defence accounting for the biggest share of public employment.The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) remains the country’s biggest public-sector employer.Its workforce jumped from 410,700 employees in 2024 to 436,300 in 2025, representing a 6.2 per cent increase.Ministries and other extra-budgetary institutions followed with 243,500 workers, while county governments employed 239,000 people.SRC estimates that the wage bill will rise to Sh1.287 trillion in the 2025/2026 financial year, up from Sh1.247 trillion in 2024/2025.SRC says the increase has largely been driven by expansion in teaching, health and security employment, as well as periodic salary adjustments.Despite the rise in the wage bill, its share of ordinary government revenue has fallen from 54.77 per cent in 2020/2021 to a projected 40.68 per cent in 2025/2026.But the figure remains above the 35 per cent threshold set under Kenya’s public finance management framework.SRC says the average month-on-month inflation rate during the fourth quarter of 2025/2026 stood at 6.23 per cent, significantly higher than the 3.9 per cent recorded during the same period a year earlier.SRC warns that persistent inflation erodes the purchasing power of salaries and can increase pressure from public employees for higher pay.
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 4 — Former Investments, Trade and Industry Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria has backed the Government’s decision to push Tata Chemicals Magadi out of Kenya, arguing that the country risks being overtaken by Uganda, Ethiopia, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo unless it fundamentally changes how it exploits its natural resources.Kuria said Kenya must stop treating industrialisation as a political issue and instead adopt policies that force investors to process raw materials locally and build industries around the country’s mineral wealth.“We will not take off if we keep on playing politics with our industrialisation policy,” Kuria said.His comments came after President William Ruto ordered Tata Chemicals to leave the Lake Magadi area, accusing the company of extracting Kajiado’s resources for decades without creating sufficient local industries, jobs and value addition.Kuria said he fully supports the decision, arguing that Kenya should learn from countries that have deliberately restricted exports of unprocessed resources to accelerate domestic manufacturing.“I fully support the government decision on Tata Chemicals and Magadi Soda,” he said.“If we do not do things differently, Uganda, Ethiopia, DRC and Tanzania will overtake Kenya’s economy in the next 5 years.”Kuria pointed to Indonesia as an example of how aggressive resource policies can drive industrialisation.He said Indonesia’s decision to ban exports of raw nickel had helped transform its economy and attract processing and manufacturing investments around the mineral.“Indonesia is the worlds 16th largest economy. It is also the largest producer of Nickel in the world accounting for 68% of global production. Indonesia’s economy has balooned because they banned exports of raw nickel,” Kuria said.He said he studied the Indonesian model during his time in government and sought to apply similar principles to Kenya’s industrial policy.Kuria also cited Uganda’s restrictions on exports of unprocessed raw materials, recalling an intervention he made while in government to secure an exemption for Devki Steel to obtain iron ore from Uganda.“When I intervened to have exemption for the Devki steel plant in Samburu Kwale to get iron ore from Uganda, President Museveni gave a deadline for Devki to set up in Uganda,” he said.The former Cabinet secretary said Kenya could no longer afford to rely mainly on exporting resources in raw form while importing finished products made from those same resources.“So far our economy has survived on what is above the surface. To move forward we must move our focus to what is below the surface,” he said.Ruto has framed the Tata Chemicals dispute as part of a broader push to ensure Kenya derives greater economic value from its natural resources.Speaking in Kajiado on Thursday, the President said Tata Chemicals had operated at Lake Magadi for about a century without establishing the level of local industrial capacity he expects from a major investor.“That Tata company has had the contract for 100 years, yet it has not built anything in Kajiado. It has not established a factory here, and it has not employed our people. The other day, I told them to pack their bags and leave,” Ruto said.The President said any investor brought in to replace Tata would be required to establish manufacturing facilities in Kajiado rather than simply extract soda ash for export.“We have said that we will bring in a new company, but the conditions for that company will be clear: it must establish a large factory to manufacture glass here in Kajiado County and another facility to manufacture chemicals here,” Ruto said.Tata Chemicals Magadi, formerly Magadi Soda Company, has operated at Lake Magadi since 1911 and became part of Tata Chemicals in 2005.The company extracts trona from Lake Magadi and processes it into natural soda ash, or sodium carbonate, which is used in glass manufacturing, detergents, chemicals and water treatment.Its operations were suspended on July 28, 2026, after the Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs cited compliance and licensing concerns.
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya Sep 4 – President William Ruto has defended Kenya’s new police uniforms amid criticism over the design, saying the change is part of a wider plan to transform the National Police Service.Speaking during the 59th Passing-Out Parade for Administration Police recruits at the National Police College in Embakasi, Nairobi, Ruto said the new uniforms should not be viewed as an isolated project.“The new uniforms for general duty officers that we unveiled last week must be understood within this broader reform program,” Ruto said.“It is not a standalone intervention, but part of the comprehensive transformation of the National Police Service arising from the reform process.”The President said the uniforms were developed after consultations with police officers and members of the public.According to Ruto, the new design was meant to improve the professional identity of officers while also considering their operational needs and dignity.“The uniform itself emerged from consultation with police officers and with the Kenyan public,” he said.He acknowledged that a uniform by itself could not change the police service, but argued that it plays a role in building a more professional force.“A uniform alone cannot transform policing, but professional identity and pride are part of building a modern, disciplined, and effective police service,” Ruto said.The President also appeared to welcome scrutiny of the wider police reform programme, saying public resources must be properly accounted for.“And because this entire reform program is undertaken in the public interest and financed with public resources, every aspect of it must withstand scrutiny,” Ruto said.Ruto said Kenyans should ask questions about government decisions but warned against condemning individuals without evidence.“We must demand answers without prejudice, question decisions without condemning people unheard, and expose wrongdoing wherever it exists,” he said.“Honest scrutiny strengthens institutions, safeguards public resources, and serves the greater public interest.”Ruto said the uniform changes are only one part of a much wider programme covering police pay, welfare, housing, training, equipment, technology and infrastructure.He said the government had completed a three-phase salary review that increased the entry-level basic salary of a police constable by 36 per cent.“There are corresponding adjustments across all the other senior ranks,” Ruto said.The President also said the government was expanding police housing, including projects in Embakasi, while improving healthcare through the Usalama Cover.Other reforms, he said, include better mobility, protective equipment, specialised operational assets and air support.
Read briefing ISIOLO, Kenya, Sep 3 — In 2010, as a devastating drought swept through Isiolo, Muhamed Hayota Dadable watched his wealth disappear one animal at a time. The cows died first. Then the goats. With every carcass left behind by the relentless drought, years of hard work vanished. At the time, there was little he could do but watch helplessly. Today, 16 years later, the 43-year-old farmer still reflects on that painful season. One thought, he says, never leaves him. “Had I known then what I know now, my life would have been completely different.” “I would have sold my livestock before they died. I would have invested the money, built a house or started another business,” he says quietly. “But I did not know any of that back then. All my livestock died. That belongs to Allah.” The lessons that came too late in 2010 now shape how he manages his livelihood. Muhamed joined Nasole Cooperative five years ago after observing the benefits his wife was getting from saving through the cooperative. Every year, she received a share-out, part of which supported the family while the rest remained in savings. Watching her financial discipline convinced him to join. “I saw my wife benefiting from the Sacco and I told myself I could not be left behind,” he recalls. At the time, his wife was saving Sh550. Once Muhamed joined, the family’s savings doubled. Today, both husband and wife are members of N...
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 3-African countries are stepping up efforts to transform livestock production and reduce the continent’s heavy dependence on food imports, with ministers warning that unlocking the sector’s potential will require coordinated investment, trade and animal-health systems across borders.Ministers and representatives from eight African countries committed to scaling proven livestock innovations, strengthening value chains and expanding regional markets during a high-level roundtable at the Africa Food Systems Forum in Kigali, Rwanda, on Thursday.The push comes against a stark productivity gap: Africa spends an estimated $70 billion to $100 billion annually on food imports, despite holding about a fifth of the world’s cattle.The continent produces only about five per cent of global milk, while demand for animal-source foods is projected to rise sharply by 2050.Appolinaire Djikeng, Director General of the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), said Africa already had many of the technologies and knowledge required to transform livestock production, but lacked the scale needed to close the gap between domestic production and imports.“Clearly Africa doesn’t lack solutions for its livestock sector. What it lacks is scale and productivity,” Djikeng said.He said closing the production-import gap would be critical to unlocking Africa’s broader agribusiness potential, estimated at $1 trillion annually.“Closing this gap between what Africa produces and what it imports is the key to delivering on the promise of the continent’s $1trillion annual agribusiness potential,” he said.The roundtable brought together ministers and representatives from Nigeria, Uganda, Niger, Mali, Malawi, Rwanda and Ethiopia, alongside former Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi.The meeting was convened by ILRI and the African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) and hosted by AGRA.The ministers focused on how to move livestock interventions, from improved genetics and animal feed to vaccination and animal-health programmes, from successful pilots into large-scale national and regional systems.Professor Lindiwe Majele Sibanda said Africa’s biggest livestock challenge was no longer recognizing the sector’s importance but delivering coordinated interventions at scale.“Africa does not lack livestock potential. We do not lack animals. We do not lack farmers. We do not lack science and technical knowledge. We certainly do not lack demand,” Sibanda said.“What we have lacked is the ability to connect all these pieces and deliver at scale. Africa’s livestock priority is no longer recognition. It is delivery,” she added.The private sector also urged governments to treat animal health as a long-term system rather than a series of emergency campaigns.Mucai Kunyiha, Group CEO of CKL Africa, said sustainable investment in livestock vaccination would require governments, producers, manufacturers, veterinarians, communities and regional institutions to work together continuously.“Vaccination is a system, not an event,” Kunyiha said, arguing that such an approach would help create the conditions for greater private-sector investment.Ethiopia’s dairy sector provided an example of the gains possible when government programmes, production and market development are combined.The country increased milk production from 7.1 billion litres in 2022 to 15.7 billion litres in 2025/26, representing a 122 per cent increase.The growth was supported by the Yelemat Tirufat, or “Bounty of the Basket”, initiative, which has established more than 36,000 new dairy villages and 5,000 dairy clusters, alongside new cross-border trade agreements.However, Ethiopia’s experience also exposed a major constraint facing the continent: feed availability. Despite feed production more than doubling during the period, officials said inadequate feed remains a major barrier to further growth.The ministers identified five areas requiring urgent action, including financing suited to livestock production cycles, easier cross-border trade and stronger disease-control systems.They also called for better livestock data, including animal identification and traceability; greater recognition of livestock within national government structures and budgets; and stronger peer learning between African countries.The discussions will feed into the proposed Integrated Regional Livestock Value Chain (IRLVC) programme, a 10-year initiative running to 2035 and led by AU-IBAR.The programme is already supporting more than 30 regional projects, including dairy market development in East Africa and poultry health initiatives in West Africa.Dr Huyam Salih, Director of AU-IBAR, said Africa needed to shift from isolated national interventions towards coordinated regional action.“We already know what works. The task now is coordinating policy and trade across borders, so proven livestock solutions can scale from one country to a continent,” Salih said.
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep3-Kenya and Comoros are seeking to deepen trade, investment and regional cooperation following the establishment of a new Comoros Consulate in Nairobi.Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs CS Musalia Mudavadi said the opening of the consulate marked a new chapter in relations between the two countries while providing a platform for expanding economic engagement.Mudavadi received the Letters of Credence from Mouigni Abdou, the first Consul General of the Union of Comoros to Kenya, during the formalisation of the diplomatic mission.“The establishment of the Comoros Consulate in Nairobi marks an important new chapter in the growing relationship between Kenya and Comoros, while reinforcing Nairobi’s position as Africa’s Diplomatic Capital and a gateway to East Africa,” Mudavadi said.The new consulate is expected to improve access to consular services for Comorian nationals living in Kenya while providing a focal point for increased engagement between the two countries.Mudavadi said the mission would also create opportunities for businesses and investors from both countries to strengthen commercial links.“The new Consulate will also open greater opportunities for trade, investment, business and regional cooperation, connecting Comoros more closely with Kenya and institutions based in Nairobi,” he said.The development comes as Kenya continues to position Nairobi as a regional centre for diplomacy, international organisations and business, with the government seeking to leverage the capital’s strategic position to expand Kenya’s economic ties across Africa.Mudavadi said stronger regional partnerships would ultimately translate into expanded markets and investment opportunities for Kenyans.“For Kenya, stronger regional partnerships mean bigger markets, greater investment and more opportunities for our people,” he said.
Read briefing NAIROBI,Kenya Sep 3 – A lawyer has asked Parliament to enact legislation that would give ordinary Kenyans the power to challenge public institutions that fail to formulate regulations needed to give effect to laws passed by Parliament.In a memorandum submitted to the Clerk of the National Assembly, Advocate Ekaterina Handa argued that the Statutory Instruments (Amendment) Bill, 2024 would help tackle delays and institutional inaction by government agencies that leave laws passed by Parliament without the regulations required to implement them.The Bill, which has already been approved by the Senate, is now before the National Assembly for public participation.Ms Handa has cited the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) as an example of what she considers prolonged administrative failure, accusing the commission of failing to formulate and gazette regulations governing complaints against judges and judicial officers despite being legally required to do so.She warned that the absence of formal rules had created uncertainty around how complaints against members of the Judiciary should be processed, leaving parties to rely on procedures that may not be clearly defined or consistently applied.“This is not merely a procedural nicety. It is a fundamental safeguard against the atrophy of legislative will and the subversion of Parliament’s intent by administrative inertia,” she said.The memorandum, dated September 3, 2026, was filed after the National Assembly invited members of the public to submit views on the proposed amendments.Under the Bill, institutions given the responsibility of making regulations would be subjected to specific deadlines for completing the process.More significantly, members of the public would be able to petition Parliament where a body responsible for making regulations had failed, neglected or refused to do so within the prescribed timeframe.The proposed amendments would also make it an offence for a responsible authority to deliberately fail to perform the statutory obligation.Ms Handa said the JSC’s handling of regulations on complaints against judges demonstrates why such a mechanism is necessary.She pointed to Section 47 of the Judicial Service Act, which requires the commission to formulate regulations for the efficient and transparent discharge of its functions, including the handling of petitions and complaints against judicial officers.She also relied on the High Court ruling in Lubengu v Judicial Service Commission & another; Ojiambo t/a Acorn Law Advocates LLP (Interested Party), where a three-judge bench considered the implications of the absence of formal rules governing complaints against judicial officers.According to Ms Handa, the court found that the lack of gazetted regulations had resulted in the JSC relying on procedures developed on a case-by-case basis, raising concerns about certainty and fairness for judges facing disciplinary action.She argued that such an arrangement could undermine constitutional guarantees relating to fair administrative action and natural justice.“Without clear, pre-ordained rules, a judge is exposed to the possibility of being judged by standards and procedures devised ex post facto or, worse, tailored for the specific case at hand,” the memorandum states.Ms Handa further cited the Supreme Court decision in Shollei v Judicial Service Commission & another, which she said required the JSC to formulate and gazette rules governing complaints against judges and judicial officers within 90 days of the judgment delivered on February 17, 2022.“This is not a matter of interpretation or legal complexity; it is a simple, direct, and binding order that has been ignored,” she said.The lawyer said the regulatory gap hurts both members of the public seeking to lodge complaints and judges who are subjected to disciplinary proceedings.For complainants, she said, the lack of clearly published procedures makes it difficult to know how and where complaints should be lodged and how they will be handled.For judges, she argued, the absence of predetermined rules creates the risk of being subjected to processes that could appear arbitrary or inconsistent.Ms Handa dismissed concerns that Parliament’s intervention in the matter would amount to interference with the Judiciary.Instead, she said, establishing clear rules would reinforce judicial independence by ensuring that disciplinary proceedings are governed by transparent standards rather than procedures created after a dispute has arisen.“This legislative proposal is not an intrusion into judicial independence; it is a vital mechanism for its preservation,” she said.She has asked MPs to admit her memorandum and the court decisions she cited into the parliamentary record as they consider the Bill.She further wants Parliament to fast-track the legislation and specifically examine the JSC’s alleged failure to comply with the Supreme Court order.Ms Handa also urged the relevant National Assembly committee to ensure that regulations governing complaints against judges are finally formulated and gazetted, either by the JSC or through the mechanism contemplated in the proposed law.
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 3-A Nairobi woman has been charged with allegedly obtaining Sh200,000 from a man after falsely claiming she could secure him a job in Denmark.Leah Wanjiku appeared before Nairobi Principal Magistrate Paul Mutai and was charged with obtaining money by false pretenses.The prosecution told the court that Wanjiku obtained the money from Alexander Kyalo Peter after allegedly representing that she was in a position to help him secure employment in Denmark, despite allegedly knowing the claim was false.According to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the alleged offence occurred on September 30, 2025, at Absa Towers along Loita Street in Nairobi.“The charges follow investigations into the alleged job fraud, with the DPP subsequently bringing the matter before court for prosecution,” ODPP said.Principal Magistrate Paul Mutai released her on a Sh100,000 bond pending the hearing of the case.
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya, Sept 2 — The National Police Service has launched investigations to establish the identities of heavily armed men who allegedly abducted Standard Group Associate Editor Alex Kiprotich.The NPS said its Anti-Abduction Unit was investigating the circumstances surrounding Kiprotich’s disappearance, including the identities of the men reportedly seen ordering occupants out of a vehicle along the Gilgil-Nakuru Road on Tuesday night.Kiprotich was found safe near Masinga Dam early Wednesday after spending about nine hours in the hands of his alleged abductors.“The Inspector General of Police has accordingly ordered immediate investigations to determine what transpired, including the identity of the heavily armed individuals reportedly seen ordering occupants out of their vehicle,” NPS spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga said in a statement.The police said the Anti-Abduction Unit, established specifically to investigate abductions and disappearances, was actively pursuing the case and would work to ensure those responsible were brought to justice.“Our Anti-Abduction Unit, specifically established to address abductions and disappearances, is actively investigating and will ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice,” Nyaga said.The NPS condemned the incident and warned against attempts to intimidate journalists or interfere with constitutional rights, including press freedom.“We unequivocally condemn any act of kidnapping, abduction, or intimidation intended to interfere with press freedom or any other constitutional right,” Nyaga said.The police also pledged a transparent investigation, saying “no one is above the law.”The latest probe comes amid growing pressure on security agencies to account for attacks against journalists, with the Media Council of Kenya saying Kiprotich had previously reported a similar ordeal in Nakuru County without any arrests being made.MCK Chief Executive Officer and Secretary to the Council David Omwoyo called on Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja to ensure those responsible for the latest incident are identified and prosecuted.The Council said it had documented several cases of violations against journalists and forwarded them to the police for investigation and prosecution, but with limited success.“MCK has monitored and documented several dire cases of press freedom violations and crimes against journalists and presented them to the Inspector General of Police for investigation and prosecution of the perpetrators without success,” the Council said.MCK said the latest incident had heightened concerns over the safety of journalists and the effectiveness of security agencies in responding to attacks against media practitioners.It said the Director of Public Prosecutions had already directed police to act within 30 days on several cases involving violations against journalists that had been forwarded to the Inspector General.The Council urged security agencies to deploy their intelligence and investigative capabilities to establish who was behind Kiprotich’s abduction and bring those responsible to justice.The Standard Group has described the incident as a possible targeted attack and linked it to a June 27 attempt to seize Kiprotich in Nakuru.According to the media house, investigations into the earlier incident traced the vehicle allegedly used by the attackers to the National Police Service’s Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau, although no one had been held accountable.The revelation has intensified calls for authorities to establish whether the two incidents are connected and determine the motive behind the attacks.MCK also raised concern over what it described as the recent trolling and profiling of editors from different media houses on social media, citing cases involving editors at Nation Media Group.It warned that attacks, threats and intimidation targeting journalists undermine press freedom and the public’s right to access information, both protected under Article 34 of the Constitution.“The impunity for crimes against journalists in the country and increasing cases of press freedom violations is a major concern for the Council,” MCK said.The Council said the State has a responsibility to protect journalists from intimidation and harassment, warning that attacks on media practitioners ultimately threaten democratic accountability.
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 2— Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has raised concerns over the preparedness of Kenya’s electoral body and growing political intolerance ahead of the 2027 General Election, during talks with British High Commissioner Matt Baugh in Nairobi.Kalonzo said the credibility of the next election would depend heavily on whether the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is adequately prepared to conduct a free, fair and credible poll.The former Vice President said he used his meeting with Baugh to discuss a range of national and international issues, including the state of Kenya’s democratic institutions and the increasingly hostile political environment.“This afternoon, I paid a courtesy call on the British High Commissioner to Kenya, Matt Baugh, at his official residence in Nairobi,” Kalonzo said.“We exchanged views on matters of national and international concerns, including the preparedness of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) ahead of the 2027 General Elections and the rising tides of political intolerance in our country.”Kalonzo said a credible electoral process would be central to maintaining public confidence in the 2027 contest, warning that the electoral commission must be fully prepared well before Kenyans go to the ballot.“I underscored that a credible and fully prepared IEBC is indispensable for the legitimacy of our democracy and that dissent must never be criminalized nor mistaken for enmity,” he said.His remarks come as political parties and prospective candidates increasingly position themselves for the 2027 elections, with questions over electoral preparedness, political freedoms and the treatment of dissenters expected to feature prominently in the political debate.Kalonzo also reaffirmed Wiper Patriotic Front’s commitment to a peaceful electoral process, saying the party would pursue its political agenda without resorting to violence.“We reaffirmed our unwavering commitment on behalf of the Wiper Patriotic Front, to non-violence and to free, fair, and credible elections,” he said.The Wiper leader was accompanied by National Assembly Minority Leader and Kathiani MP Robert Mbui during the meeting.Kalonzo also thanked the British envoy for what he described as sustained engagement with Kenya’s democratic process, while calling for international partners to support a peaceful electoral environment.“I expressed my gratitude to High Commissioner Baugh for his sustained engagement with Kenya’s democratic process and reaffirmed that Kenya’s international partners, like her wananchi, expect a peaceful and credible path towards the forthcoming General Election,” he said.
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 2— Africa must urgently build a new generation of nuclear scientists and engineers if the continent is to move from consuming advanced technologies to developing and exporting home-grown scientific solutions, Principal Secretary for Science, Research and Innovation Shaukat Abdulrazak has said.Shaukat said Africa’s nuclear ambitions cannot be achieved through infrastructure and technology investments alone, warning that the continent needs a deliberate pipeline of experts stretching from secondary schools to universities, research institutions and industry.“Africa’s nuclear future will not be built by infrastructure alone; it will be built by people,” Shaukat said.He was speaking in Nairobi during an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Technical Cooperation Programme and African Regional Cooperative Agreement for Research, Development and Training related to Nuclear Science and Technology (AFRA) regional meeting on establishing a regional network for education outreach in nuclear science and technology.The meeting, hosted by the National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI) under project RAF 0065, focused on strengthening education and outreach in nuclear science and technology.Shaukat said African countries need to deliberately nurture the next generation of nuclear scientists, engineers, medical physicists, researchers and innovators rather than wait until the continent faces a shortage of specialised expertise.He called for training programmes to be complemented by mentorship, mobility opportunities, shared centres of excellence and digital learning to create a stronger and more connected talent pipeline.He also called for greater participation of young people and women in nuclear science and related fields.“Our objective must be to build a critical mass of African expertise capable of advancing world-class science while promoting brain circulation rather than brain drain,” Shaukat said.Shaukat said the value of nuclear science extends well beyond nuclear power generation, highlighting its applications in areas directly linked to Africa’s development challenges.He cited applications including cancer diagnosis and treatment, climate-smart agriculture, food security, water-resource management, industrialisation, environmental protection and clean energy.The PS said developing domestic expertise in these areas would enable African countries to harness nuclear technologies to address local challenges while strengthening their scientific and industrial capacity.The emphasis on education outreach is aimed at building interest and expertise from an early stage, with secondary schools forming the starting point of the proposed talent pipeline.Shaukat said the project would contribute to building the next generation of experts “from secondary school upwards.”The PS also called for stronger collaboration between governments, universities, research institutions, industry, regulators, the IAEA and development partners.He said both South-South and North-South cooperation would be important in expanding access to expertise, training and research opportunities.Through such partnerships, Shaukat said, Africa can strengthen its capacity to develop its own technologies rather than remain primarily dependent on imported expertise and solutions.“Through stronger cooperation among governments, universities, research institutions, industry, regulators, the IAEA and development partners, and by deepening both South–South and North–South cooperation—we can ensure Africa moves from being primarily a consumer of advanced technologies to becoming a developer, innovator and global contributor to science and technology,” he said.The push comes as African countries seek to expand their use of science and technology to address development challenges, while ensuring that the continent has the specialised human capital required to sustain increasingly sophisticated research and industrial programmes.
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 2— The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and Kenya Climate Ventures (KCV) have launched a partnership aimed at unlocking more domestic and international capital for climate adaptation and resilience businesses across Sub-Saharan Africa.The two institutions signed a Joint Declaration at the Adaptation Investment Summit for Africa 2026 in Nairobi, creating a framework for scaling investment in climate-smart enterprises, particularly early- and growth-stage businesses that often struggle to access finance.The partnership brings together UNIDO’s expertise in market development, climate adaptation and the climate-resilient transformation of the coffee sector with KCV’s experience in enterprise development and early-stage climate finance.“Advancing climate resilience and adaptation financing through existing initiatives such as the Kenya Uganda Adaptation Accelerator (KUAA) project and the ACT programme (Advancing Climate-Resilience and Transformation in African Coffee), as well as new initiatives like the Africa Climate Adaptation Investment Catalyst Initiative, and cooperating across the Kenyan coffee value chain underlines our shared commitment and ambition to scale up adaptation finance,” said Marko van Waveren Hogervorst, Programme Officer and Climate Finance Expert at UNIDO.The partners said they intend to use their combined networks, investment instruments and access to climate finance providers to mobilise capital for sustainable, inclusive and climate-resilient investments across the region.The collaboration is expected to focus on businesses that can deliver climate adaptation solutions but face challenges in attracting investment because of their early stage, perceived risks or limited access to finance.KCV, a climate-focused fund manager and impact investor, supports early- and growth-stage, gender-inclusive and climate-smart enterprises.Through the partnership, the organisations will seek to strengthen the pipeline of investable enterprises while connecting them to public and private sources of capital.The cooperation will also cover investment frameworks, impact measurement, market intelligence and the development of dedicated climate finance initiatives.A key component will be the use of UNIDO’s Climate Risk and Vulnerability Assessment (CRVA) tool to inform financing decisions and help align investments with international best practice.The partners also plan to co-create and harmonise impact assessments, participate in each other’s platforms and forums, and share market and investment intelligence.UNIDO said its Division of Innovative Finance and International Financial Institutions plays a catalytic role by connecting the organisation’s technical cooperation programmes with public and private financial institutions.The new partnership is intended to strengthen that connection by pairing UNIDO’s technical expertise with KCV’s early-stage financing capabilities.The aim is to help transform climate adaptation needs into investable opportunities capable of attracting capital at scale.KCV Chief Executive Officer Victor Ndiege said the collaboration would help create stronger pathways for businesses and communities to access climate finance.“This Joint Declaration marks an important step in advancing climate adaptation finance across Africa,” Ndiege said.“By combining UNIDO’s global expertise with Kenya Climate Ventures’ experience in enterprise development and climate investing, we are strengthening pathways to unlock investment, scale climate-smart enterprises and build resilient economies,” he said.The partnership comes as African countries seek greater investment to respond to the growing effects of climate change while maintaining economic growth and expanding employment opportunities.UNIDO and KCV said partnerships between technical institutions, investors, fund managers, policymakers and enterprises would be critical in developing markets and mobilising both public and private capital.The two organisations plan to convene investors, development partners, policymakers, fund managers and businesses through peer-learning and knowledge-exchange initiatives focused on adaptation finance and enterprise resilience.The collaboration will initially build on existing programmes, including the Kenya Uganda Adaptation Accelerator and the ACT programme supporting climate-resilient transformation in Africa’s coffee sector, while creating opportunities for new initiatives targeting adaptation investment.Ndiege said the partnership would ultimately be judged by its ability to translate collaboration into practical investment and resilience outcomes.“We look forward to translating this collaboration into tangible impact for communities and businesses across Sub-Saharan Africa,” he said.
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 2— Kazakhstan has warned the world against repeating the devastation of nuclear testing, drawing on the experience of its Semipalatinsk test site where 456 nuclear tests exposed about 1.5 million people to high levels of radiation.Speaking at a special meeting at the United Nations Office at Nairobi to mark the International Day against Nuclear Tests, Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to Kenya and Permanent Representative to the UN Office at Nairobi, Barlybay Sadykov, said the country’s experience demonstrated the lasting humanitarian and environmental consequences of nuclear explosions.The Semipalatinsk site, one of the world’s largest nuclear testing grounds, was permanently closed by Kazakhstan on August 29, 1991, after more than four decades of testing.“Behind every number of explosions are people who suffered from nuclear tests. Families. Communities. Children yet to be born,” Sadykov said.Between the first test and its eventual closure, 30 atmospheric, 86 above-ground and 340 underground nuclear explosions were conducted at the site, which covered about 18,000 square kilometres.Kazakhstan’s experience, Sadykov said, had shaped its commitment to nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation and the prohibition of nuclear testing.The ambassador said the humanitarian consequences had continued across generations, including increased health problems, congenital birth defects and long-term psychological and social effects among communities living with the legacy of nuclear testing.The environmental damage has also persisted, with radioactive contamination affecting soil and creating the need for long-term monitoring of radioactive pathways through water and the food chain.“The tragedy of Semipalatinsk must never be repeated,” Sadykov said, calling on states to strengthen international efforts to prevent further nuclear testing and advance nuclear disarmament.Kazakhstan’s decision to close Semipalatinsk followed the emergence in 1989 of the Semipalatinsk-Nevada Anti-Nuclear Movement under the leadership of Kazakh poet and activist Olzhas Suleimenov.The movement campaigned for the closure of the test site and demonstrated the ability of public mobilisation to influence nuclear policy.In 2009, Kazakhstan initiated a UN General Assembly resolution that established August 29 as the International Day against Nuclear Tests, aimed at raising awareness of the consequences of nuclear testing and strengthening international efforts towards its prohibition.The country subsequently dismantled and eliminated the infrastructure of the former test site with the United States and Russia under the Cooperative Threat Reduction Programme.Kazakhstan also established the National Nuclear Center on scientific facilities associated with the former testing site. The centre now conducts work on environmental assessments, remediation, international security and the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.In 1992, Kazakhstan adopted legislation providing social protection for citizens affected by nuclear tests at Semipalatinsk, while the government continues to support affected populations.UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that the danger of nuclear testing remains particularly serious amid rising geopolitical tensions.Reading Guterres’ message at the Nairobi event, UN Office at Nairobi Director-General Zainab Hawa Bangura said the suffering of victims and survivors of nuclear testing should not be treated as a closed chapter of history.He said nuclear tests “do not prove strength” but instead shatter trust, encourage reciprocal testing and fuel nuclear arms races.“The world must never witness another nuclear explosion,” Guterres said, urging all nuclear-armed states to maintain existing moratoria and bring the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty into force without delay.The message comes as the world marks 30 years since the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty opened for signature and 35 years since Kazakhstan closed the Semipalatinsk test site.Guterres said the anniversaries should serve as reminders that humanity can choose restraint over destruction.President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev reiterated Kazakhstan’s commitment to a world free of nuclear testing and nuclear threats on August 29.According to Sadykov, Tokayev said Kazakhstan’s decision to close Semipalatinsk and later renounce the world’s fourth-largest nuclear arsenal was a historic choice for peace, security and future generations.“35 years ago, Kazakhstan closed the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site and later renounced the world’s fourth-largest nuclear arsenal – a historic choice for peace, security, and future generations,” Tokayev said.He called for dialogue among nuclear powers, the early entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty and decisive multilateral action to eliminate the threat posed by nuclear weapons.Kazakhstan is also chairing the Central Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in 2026, marking 20 years since the signing of the treaty establishing the zone.
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 1-African women’s rights advocates have warned that growing appeals to “family values”, culture, religion and national sovereignty are being used to undermine hard-won protections for women and girls, calling for stronger public engagement and accountability to prevent a rollback of gender-equality gains.The warning emerged ahead of the 81st United Nations General Assembly as rights experts and civil society groups examined growing anti-rights mobilisation and its potential impact on gender equality, sexual and reproductive health and human rights accountability.The latest SHE & Rights session, jointly hosted by the Global Center for Health Diplomacy and Inclusion (CeHDI) and CNS with the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), Asian-Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women (ARROW) and Asia Pacific Media Alliance for Health, Gender and Development Justice (APCAT Media), placed particular focus on the use of family, cultural and religious narratives in political and legal debates.Dr Robert Eno, Registrar of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, said there was currently no indication that a proposed African Charter on “family sovereignty and values” was scheduled for consideration by the African Union Assembly.Eno stressed that the draft charter was not proposed by the African Union and would have to pass through a lengthy institutional process before reaching the Assembly.He also expressed doubt that the proposed instrument would reach the AU Assembly by February 2027.But Eno cautioned against complacency, saying the concern went beyond the fate of a single proposed legal instrument.He said the broader contest was about how societies define and understand family, culture, religion, equality and human dignity.“Discriminatory laws continue to affect women and girls in different parts of the world,” he noted, citing unequal inheritance rights, restrictions on divorce and the failure in some jurisdictions to recognise marital rape.Rehema Namukose, Senior Regional Programme Officer for sub-Saharan Africa at Musawah, said anti-rights actors were increasingly exploiting the language of family protection to stall reforms affecting women.She said legislation seeking to advance women’s rights in marriage, divorce and custody was being delayed in some countries while restrictive “family protection” bills gained political traction, sometimes with external far-right funding.Namukose cited developments in Ghana, Kenya and Uganda, saying political and legislative efforts could restrict bodily autonomy and sexual and reproductive rights while reforms addressing marriage, divorce, custody and women’s equal rights face delays.She also linked the framing to practices including child marriage and female genital mutilation, as well as women’s economic disadvantage through unpaid care work and unequal property and inheritance rights.In some Muslim family-law systems, she said, concepts such as “male guardianship” and “male authority” can be codified in ways that make women’s rights conditional on obedience.Namukose argued that the language of “family values”, “cultural integrity”, “sovereignty” and “national cohesion” can be deployed to preserve patriarchal power rather than protect families.She called for greater cooperation between legal networks, faith communities, survivors, policymakers and civil society organisations.Samah Hadid, Global Executive Director of Musawah, similarly warned that the anti-rights movement was becoming more coordinated and better resourced, with religion, culture and tradition increasingly used to justify discrimination.She said religious language was frequently used to police women and reinforce patriarchal control in both private and public life.Musawah is seeking to challenge such arguments from within Muslim legal and religious traditions by developing egalitarian Islamic arguments supporting women’s rights and training activists, lawyers and judges to use them.Hadid called for alliances involving secular, religious, cultural and human-rights actors, arguing that family, religion and tradition can coexist with equality and justice for women and girls.The discussions also turned to the African Union Convention on Eliminating Violence Against Women and Girls (AU CEVAWG), adopted in February 2025.Fatou Bantou Salah of the Initiative for Strategic Litigation in Africa (ISLA) said nine AU member states had signed the convention, while The Gambia and Ghana had ratified it.The treaty requires 15 ratifications to enter into force, leaving 13 additional ratifications needed.Salah said the period before the treaty becomes binding should be used for a thorough legal review.ISLA and other civil society actors have raised concerns about limited civil-society consultation during drafting, the absence of published preparatory materials, conceptual and substantive gaps and weaknesses concerning state due-diligence obligations.
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep1-The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has summoned Kajiado Governor Joseph Ole Lenku over remarks advocating for Maasai candidates to occupy political positions in Kajiado and Narok, warning that failure to appear could trigger an arrest warrant.Lenku is required to appear before the commission on September 17, 2026, to assist with ongoing investigations into remarks he allegedly made at Ewuaso Oonkidong’a in Kajiado West Constituency on August 22.The NCIC said it is investigating the remarks under provisions of the National Cohesion and Integration Act relating to hate speech, negative ethnicity and conduct capable of undermining peaceful relations among communities.The commission has warned the governor that failure to honour the summons could result in a warrant of arrest and his production before the commission, as well as possible criminal or contempt proceedings.“Take notice that failure to appear in person at the aforementioned place, date, and time will lead to warrants of arrest being issued for your arrest and production before the Commission and/or the institution of criminal and/or contempt proceedings against you,” the summons states.The commission said the investigation centres on comments in which Lenku appeared to support the idea that political parties should not field candidates from other communities for positions he described as belonging to the Maasai in Kajiado, Narok and other areas.In the remarks, Lenku reportedly praised the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) for saying it would allow candidates from different communities to compete for political positions and then urged political parties to respect what he described as the Maasai’s rightful leadership positions.“Any political party that fields a non-Maasai candidate for a position meant for the Maasai in Kajiado, Narok or elsewhere, we will have no relationship with you,” Lenku said, according to the remarks cited by NCIC.He further said the Maasai had been “oppressed enough” and declared that the community would no longer accept political arrangements it considered unfair.The governor also cited nominations for women’s assembly seats in Kajiado, arguing that political parties should not nominate candidates who were not from the Maasai community for positions he considered reserved for them.The remarks are now at the centre of the NCIC investigation, although the commission has not made a finding that Lenku committed an offence.The NCIC said its mandate is to promote national unity and harmony and guard against negative ethnicity, racism, religious intolerance and hate speech.Lenku has been directed to appear before the commission at Britam Towers in Upper Hill, Nairobi, at 2 p.m. on Thursday, September 17.The summons is part of an ongoing investigation, and the commission is yet to make a determination on whether the governor’s remarks amount to hate speech or another offence under the law.The investigation comes as political parties and leaders increasingly position themselves ahead of the next electoral cycle, with questions over ethnic representation and control of political positions remaining sensitive issues in parts of the country.
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 1 — Artificial intelligence has arrived in Kenya long before the country has fully figured out what to do with it.From banks and insurance companies to technology firms, newsrooms and small businesses, Kenyans are increasingly turning to AI tools to write, translate, analyse information, generate images, assist with coding and automate routine work.The scale of adoption is striking. The Digital 2026 Mid-Year Global Update, based on research covering more than 240,000 people across 54 markets, found that 97.5 per cent of Kenyan internet users aged 16 and above had used at least one AI tool in the previous month — the highest rate among the markets tracked. Kenya was followed by the United Arab Emirates at 94.2 per cent and Indonesia at 93.6 per cent.But beneath the excitement lies a more difficult question: Is artificial intelligence delivering the economic revolution being promised, or is much of the current enthusiasm simply hype?For businesses, AI promises lower operating costs, greater productivity and new products. For workers, it has revived fears that machines could make some jobs obsolete. For consumers, it has opened new concerns around misinformation, privacy and accountability when automated systems get things wrong.Kenya is therefore moving into a more consequential phase of the AI debate — one that is no longer about whether the technology matters, but whether widespread adoption can translate into measurable economic gains.Technology Service Providers of Kenya (TESPOK) Chairman James Turuthi says Kenyans are adopting AI at extraordinary speed, but cautions against confusing widespread use with economic transformation.“Kenyans are using AI faster than almost anyone on earth. That part is real. What’s still catching up is whether that usage has actually changed how businesses make money,” Mr Turuthi says.Many companies remain at the pilot stage, testing AI for customer service, marketing, fraud detection, credit scoring, document processing and data analysis.The real measure of success, however, is not whether an organisation has introduced an AI tool. It is whether that tool saves money, generates revenue, improves decision-making, increases productivity or delivers a better service.PwC’s 2026 Kenya CEO Survey points to a similar challenge, identifying a significant gap between AI readiness and execution and highlighting the need for greater investment in AI skills and innovation ecosystems.The wider business picture is equally cautious. PwC’s global survey found that chief executives are investing in AI even as immediate returns often remain elusive.Turuthi says fewer than a quarter of chief executives who have invested in AI report increased revenue, with a similar proportion reporting meaningful cost savings.“The gap between ‘we’re using AI’ and ‘AI moved our bottom line’ is where I’d tell people to keep their expectations honest,” he says.There is another problem: Kenya is largely an AI consumer rather than a producer.Turuthi estimates that only about one in 10 Kenyan organisations are developing AI capability in-house, with most relying on vendors, cloud platforms or AI features already embedded in software they use.“That’s a sensible, low-cost way to get started. But it also means the ‘Kenya as an AI powerhouse’ narrative is ahead of where we actually sit in the value chain,” he says.The distinction matters because widespread use does not automatically translate into economic value.A country that primarily consumes AI products can benefit from improved productivity, but much of the intellectual property, technology ownership and financial value may continue to accrue elsewhere.The appeal of generative AI lies partly in its ability to perform tasks that previously consumed hours of human labour.It can draft correspondence, summarise lengthy documents, produce marketing material, translate text, transcribe meetings, analyse information and assist programmers.For a small business owner, AI could reduce the need to outsource simple promotional material. For an accountant or lawyer, it can reduce the time spent sorting through documents. For a newsroom, it can assist with transcription, translation and research.AI can produce information that sounds convincing but is false. It can misunderstand context, reproduce biases contained in its training data and provide confident answers even when it lacks sufficient information.Turuthi argues that AI is most valuable when used for specific, repetitive tasks rather than treated as an all-knowing machine.Among the practical applications he cites are fraud detection in mobile-money transactions, customer-service chatbots, agricultural tools that identify crop diseases from photographs and systems that assist with transcription and translation between English, Kiswahili and other languages.“These are real, tested uses, not hype. Use AI as a smart assistant, not an oracle. Verify its output, especially for anything involving money, health, or legal decisions,” he says.
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 1-A former Machakos County chief officer has been charged with allegedly using forged academic certificates to secure a senior government position from which he earned more than Sh1.5 million in public funds.The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) said the former official was arrested on August 31, 2026, and arraigned at the Machakos Law Courts on Tuesday, where he pleaded not guilty to all charges.The former Chief Officer for Industry and Innovation allegedly used a forged Bachelor of Commerce degree certificate and a fake Certified Public Accountants (CPA) Final Examination Certificate to secure his appointment.According to EACC investigations, the Bachelor of Commerce certificate, in Accounting, was purportedly issued by the University of Nairobi in 2004, while the CPA Final Examination Certificate was dated June 2019.“The Commission further established that he used the certificates to secure appointment as Chief Officer, Industry and Innovation, a position he held from January to November 2023,” EACC said.During his tenure, the former official earned salaries totalling Sh1,585,967.90, which EACC now intends to recover through civil proceedings.The Commission said its investigations established that the academic qualifications presented by the former official were fraudulent.The Director of Public Prosecutions approved three charges after EACC forwarded its inquiry file: fraudulent acquisition of public property, uttering a false document and forgery of academic certificates.The court granted the accused cash bail of Sh1 million, or an alternative bond of Sh2 million with a surety of a similar amount.EACC said it will separately institute civil proceedings seeking recovery of the salaries and other benefits allegedly obtained through the use of the fraudulent academic qualifications.
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 1-Kenya is stepping up efforts to detect sickle cell disease in infants as the government seeks to close gaps in diagnosis and treatment for an estimated 250,000 people living with the condition across the country.Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said universal infant screening, reliable access to treatment and stronger referral systems will be critical to ensuring children born with sickle cell disease receive care early enough to improve their quality and length of life.About 14,000 children affected by sickle cell disease are born in Kenya each year, according to the Ministry of Health.Speaking in Nairobi during the opening of the three-day Global Sickle Cell Disease Conference, Duale said the government was expanding screening, strengthening comprehensive care and training health workers to support early diagnosis and continuity of treatment.“Kenya’s ambition must go beyond survival; every person living with sickle cell disease must thrive,” Duale said.The conference, organised by the Global Alliance of Sickle Cell Disease Organizations (GASCDO) in partnership with the Ministry of Health and the Sickle Cell Federation of Kenya, is bringing together stakeholders to assess progress and address gaps in sickle cell care.Duale said the burden of the disease was particularly high in the Lake Victoria region, Western Kenya and the Coast, but warned that sickle cell disease had become a national health and equity concern.He said access to quality care should not be determined by a child’s place of birth or the ability of their family to pay.Kenya has incorporated sickle cell screening into its broader maternal and child health programmes following the 2023 infant screening policy.The Health CS said screening is currently being implemented in 10 counties, with more than 8,000 infants reached so far.The government is also expanding comprehensive sickle cell care through initiatives including the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital Centre of Excellence, the Kianda Level 4 primary care model, PEN-Plus, KETAN and IMARA Care.More than 1,000 health workers and 700 Community Health Promoters have received training as part of efforts to strengthen the health system’s capacity to identify and manage the disease.Duale said the experiences shared by people living with sickle cell disease during the conference demonstrated the importance of early diagnosis and consistent treatment.“The testimonies of sickle cell warriors were a powerful reminder that early detection and consistent care can transform lives,” he said.The government is now pushing for a broader national response that includes establishing a national sickle cell disease registry, ensuring reliable access to medicines and diagnostics, improving availability of safe blood and strengthening referral systems.Duale also called for increased investment in research and sustainable financing for sickle cell programmes.The measures are intended to move Kenya’s response beyond managing complications and improving survival to ensuring people living with sickle cell disease can lead longer, healthier and fulfilling lives.“Our goal must be to move beyond survival and ensure that every person living with sickle cell disease can live a long, healthy and fulfilling life, wherever they are in Kenya,” Duale said.The conference is being held under the theme, “Global Standards, Local Impact: Advancing Sickle Cell Care Across Systems and Communities.”
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 31— The government has apologised for the disruption at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) as an aviation workers’ strike entered its second day, saying urgent talks were underway to restore normal operations and resolve the dispute.Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi said the government recognised the severity of the disruption, which has affected passengers, airlines, businesses and Kenya’s international connectivity.“The Government recognises the serious disruption currently affecting operations at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), and the significant impact this situation is having on passengers, airlines, businesses and Kenya’s international connectivity,” Mudavadi said in a statement Monday.He said the government was engaging all parties involved in the dispute, with discussions continuing to find a resolution.“The Government is actively engaged with all the parties involved, and discussions are ongoing towards addressing the issues at hand,” he said.The statement came as the industrial action by the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) disrupted flights at JKIA, Kenya’s main international gateway, with airlines reporting delays, cancellations and changes to flight schedules.The government said its immediate priority was to ensure the safe and orderly restoration of normal airport operations while pursuing a lasting settlement to the dispute.“We deeply regret the inconvenience caused to passengers whose journeys have been disrupted,” Mudavadi said, urging affected travellers to remain patient and liaise with their airlines for updates on flights and alternative travel arrangements.The disruption has heightened concerns over the reliability of JKIA as a regional aviation hub, with industry groups warning that prolonged industrial action could have wider consequences for tourism, trade, investment and Kenya’s connectivity with the rest of Africa and the world.Kenya’s aviation industry had earlier called for an urgent resolution of the strike, warning that repeated disruptions to air traffic services risk undermining confidence in the country’s aviation system.The government acknowledged the broader significance of the crisis, describing JKIA as a “critical national gateway” for trade, tourism, investment, diplomacy and regional connectivity.“The Government is therefore treating the situation with the urgency and seriousness it requires,” Mudavadi said.The latest disruption follows similar industrial action in February that caused widespread flight cancellations and delays at JKIA, raising fresh questions over contingency planning and the ability of authorities and aviation operators to maintain operations during labour disputes.Kenya Airways has also reported significant disruptions, with some flights delayed for several hours because of the backlog created by the strike. Other airlines affected include Rwandair and Uganda Airlines.The airline has advised passengers to confirm their flight status before travelling to the airport.Mudavadi assured passengers, airlines and Kenya’s international partners that the government remained engaged with stakeholders and would continue negotiations in good faith.“We assure the public, the aviation industry and our international partners that the Government remains fully seized of the matter and will continue engaging all relevant stakeholders in good faith,” he said.
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 31 — The government is stepping up preparations to protect learners, teachers and schools from disruptions as Kenya braces for a potentially strong El Niño weather event expected in October and November.The Ministry of Education and the Kenya Red Cross Society are working on measures to safeguard school communities and ensure learning continues, including the administration of national examinations and assessments, despite the anticipated heavy rains.Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba said the ministry was reviewing its disaster preparedness plans in consultation with humanitarian partners as the country prepares for the expected weather event.Ogamba said the education sector was particularly vulnerable to climate-related disasters, which can threaten the safety of learners and teachers while damaging school infrastructure and interrupting learning.“The education sector is exposed to disasters occasioned by climate change and related risks. Disaster preparedness and management are therefore indispensable to ensuring the safety and security of learners, teachers and school property, and the seamless delivery of education and training,” Ogamba said.He issued the statement after meeting Kenya Red Cross Society Secretary General Ahmed Idris at Jogoo House B in Nairobi to discuss preparedness for the forecast El Niño conditions.“This afternoon, I held a meeting with the Secretary General of the Kenya Red Cross Society, Dr. Ahmed Idris, at the Ministry’s Jogoo House B offices, to discuss the Ministry’s preparedness in light of the forecast of a strong El Nino weather event expected in October and November,” he said.Ogamba said the ministry would work with the Red Cross and other partners to put in place measures to minimise the impact of extreme weather on schools.“The Ministry, together with partners such as the Kenya Red Cross Society, will implement all measures necessary to ensure that learners, teachers and school communities are safe, and that education programmes, including national examinations and assessments, proceed without interruption,” he said.The preparations come weeks after the government identified 18 counties and several urban centres as being at heightened risk from the anticipated El Niño rains.The National Disaster Operations Centre has identified areas in the Coast, Lake Basin, Rift Valley and North Eastern regions as vulnerable to hazards including flooding, landslides, disease outbreaks, infrastructure damage and displacement.Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu have also been classified as high-risk urban centres, with authorities warning of possible flooding, blocked drainage systems and disruption of essential services.The Kenya Meteorological Service has forecast an 81 per cent chance of a strong El Niño event, with a 97 per cent probability that its effects could persist into early next year, according to an Interior Ministry assessment issued earlier this month.For the education sector, the anticipated rains could expose schools to flooding, damage to classrooms and other infrastructure, impassable roads and disruption of attendance, particularly in vulnerable areas.
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya, August 31 – Nairobi is racing against time to clear tonnes of garbage from its drainage system and waterways before the rains return, exposing the scale of the city’s waste management crisis and the threat it poses to flood-prone neighbourhoods. The county government says it is collecting about 3,000 tonnes of garbage every day, triple the roughly 1,000 tonnes previously collected, as it steps up efforts to clear blocked drains, river channels and illegal dumping sites. But the sheer volume of waste being removed points to a deeper problem: Nairobi is generating and dumping rubbish faster than the city’s waste management system can contain it. In some of the areas most vulnerable to flooding, garbage has accumulated in huge quantities along waterways and drainage corridors. Embakasi South alone has recorded more than 4,500 loads of waste removed since April, according to figures provided by County Executive Committee Member for Green Nairobi Maureen Njeri. At Kware Bridge, 1,538 loads have been cleared, while another 2,970 loads have been removed from English Press in Mukuru Kwa Reuben. The county has also been clearing waste collection points along the Ngong River, where rubbish poses the risk of being washed downstream and blocking already strained drainage infrastructure. The problem is not confined to the city’s eastern suburbs. Along the Nairobi River, 216...
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 31 — Kenya’s aviation strike entered its second day on Monday, with hundreds of passengers facing delays and cancellations as the Ministry of Roads and Transport remained publicly silent on the disruption.However, Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei said the government was working to reach an amicable settlement.Sing’oei, who is not in charge of the transport docket, offered the clearest public indication from government that efforts were underway to resolve the dispute, as disruption at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) continued.“We convey our sincere apologies to travelers for inconvenience caused by the ongoing industrial action at JKIA and assure that government is doing what it can to reach an amicable settlement on this matter,” Sing’oei said.The Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) strike, which began on Sunday, has disrupted air traffic services at JKIA and other airports, leaving passengers stranded and forcing airlines to delay or cancel flights.Some passengers had been at JKIA for more than 12 hours as the disruption entered its second day.The Ministry of Roads and Transport had not issued a substantive public statement on the strike by Monday evening, despite the disruption directly affecting the country’s aviation and transport network.Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), however, acknowledged that the disruption to air traffic control services was continuing to affect operations at JKIA.“As a result, some flights are experiencing delays and cancellations,” KAA said, advising passengers to contact their airlines and confirm their flight status before travelling to the airport.KAA said it was working with airlines and other aviation stakeholders to mitigate the disruption and facilitate safe, secure and orderly airport operations.The impact has been felt by airlines operating through Kenya’s main international gateway.RwandAir cancelled two pairs of flights scheduled for Monday, citing operational challenges affecting air traffic control services at JKIA. The airline said affected passengers would be accommodated on the next available flights.Kenya Airways has also reported delays of more than six hours at JKIA and said the resulting backlog had forced it to reschedule and cancel some flights.The national carrier advised passengers not to go to the airport unless they had a confirmed flight and urged travellers to check their flight status before departure.The continuing disruption has also triggered concern from Kenya’s aviation and tourism industry.The Kenya Association of Air Operators (KAAO), African Airlines Association (AFRAA) and Kenya Tourism Federation (KTF) have called for an urgent end to the industrial action, warning that prolonged disruption could threaten safety, connectivity and Kenya’s reputation as a regional aviation hub.“Safety cannot be improvised,” said Liz Aluvanze, Chief Executive Officer of KAAO.The industry bodies said the latest disruption was particularly concerning because similar industrial action occurred in February, making the possibility of another disruption foreseeable.They called for tested contingency plans and better communication between aviation authorities, airlines and other industry players.The February strike provides an indication of the potential economic cost of the latest disruption.KAAO’s preliminary assessment of 16 operators recorded 150 flight cancellations and 382 delays, with direct losses estimated at about $5.1 million.That estimate did not include losses from aircraft diversions, crew disruption, network recovery or wider effects on tourism, trade and medical operations.AFRAA Secretary General Abdérahmane Berthé said disruption at JKIA could have consequences across the continent because of the airport’s role as a regional aviation gateway.“Kenya’s role as a continental aviation hub means that disruptions here are felt well beyond its borders, affecting connectivity, trade and travellers across Africa’s aviation network,” Berthé said.
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 31 — Kenya’s aviation industry has called for an urgent end to an ongoing air traffic services strike, warning that prolonged disruption at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) is threatening flight safety, passenger connectivity and the country’s reputation as a regional aviation hub.The Kenya Association of Air Operators (KAAO), African Airlines Association (AFRAA) and Kenya Tourism Federation (KTF) said the industrial action by the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU), which began on August 30, has caused delays, cancellations, diversions, rerouting and prolonged aircraft holding at JKIA and other Kenyan airports.The industry bodies said the disruption was particularly concerning because air traffic services are safety-critical and require tested contingency arrangements to prevent operational risks from being transferred to airlines, crews and passengers.“Safety cannot be improvised,” said Liz Aluvanze, Chief Executive Officer of KAAO.“Operators, crews and passengers should not carry the burden of a foreseeable disruption when timely notices, tested contingency measures and coordinated airport response should have been in place.”The associations said the latest strike was foreseeable following similar industrial action in February, which should have prompted authorities to activate and communicate effective contingency plans.They cited Regulation 40 of the Kenya Civil Aviation (Air Traffic Services) Regulations, which requires the air traffic services authority to develop contingency plans for actual or potential disruption of air traffic services and coordinate them with affected airspace users and neighbouring air traffic service authorities.According to the aviation bodies, operators were not briefed on an activated contingency plan during the latest disruption, while delayed issuance of the relevant Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) left airlines with less time to adjust flight plans, fuel requirements, alternate airports, crew rosters and passenger arrangements.They also called for more regular briefings from the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) covering airport capacity, aircraft parking, gates, stands, apron congestion, ground handling, cargo facilities and the expected recovery sequence.The disruption has already affected Kenya’s national carrier, Kenya Airways, which said some flights were facing delays of more than six hours at JKIA because of the backlog created by the industrial action.The airline said it had been forced to reschedule and cancel some flights and advised passengers not to travel to the airport unless they had a confirmed flight.Kenya Airways said passengers could check their flight status through its website or mobile application and change or reschedule flights without penalty.“Safety of our passengers and crew remains our highest priority,” the airline said, apologising to customers for the disruption.The latest disruption has revived concerns over the wider economic consequences of instability at Kenya’s main aviation gateway.During the February 16–17 KAWU industrial action, KAAO’s preliminary assessment of 16 operators recorded 150 flight cancellations and 382 delays, resulting in approximately $5.1 million in direct losses.The figure did not include costs linked to aircraft diversions, crew disruption and network recovery, or wider losses to tourism, trade and medical operations.The industry bodies warned that repeated disruptions could undermine confidence in JKIA and weaken Kenya’s position as a gateway to East and Central Africa.“Kenya’s role as a continental aviation hub means that disruptions here are felt well beyond its borders, affecting connectivity, trade and travellers across Africa’s aviation network,” said Abdérahmane Berthé, Secretary General of AFRAA.“We join KAAO and KTF in calling for an urgent, amicable resolution and for contingency arrangements that protect the continent’s air transport system.”The groups said reliable air connectivity is critical to Kenya’s tourism industry, time-sensitive exports, humanitarian and medical flights, trade and investment.They called on KCAA, KAA, KAWU, the government and other aviation stakeholders to urgently resolve the dispute while ensuring safety-critical services remain protected during industrial action.The associations also urged authorities to strengthen contingency planning and airport coordination to ensure future disruptions do not leave airlines and passengers bearing avoidable operational and financial risks.“KAAO, AFRAA and KTF remain available to work constructively with all parties to restore safe, orderly and predictable operations,” the organisations said.They warned that Kenya’s ambition to remain a leading regional aviation gateway must be matched by an aviation system that is “prepared, accountable and resilient.”
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 30 – Nairobi Gubernatorial Hopeful Babu Owino has issued a stern warning to bloggers and political operatives he accused of playing both sides of the political divide, telling them they cannot simultaneously champion the Linda Mwananchi opposition movement and support President William Ruto’s administration.Speaking during the Linda Mwananchi rally in Meru on Sunday, Babu said the movement would not tolerate individuals he described as “traitors” who had infiltrated its ranks to undermine its political mobilisation.“You cannot be a blogger for Linda Mwananchi and at the same time a blogger for the government,” Babu said.He told the alleged double dealers to choose where their loyalty lay, insisting that supporters of the movement must commit themselves fully to its political cause.“If you support us, give us 100 per cent support; if you don’t support us, support Ruto because we don’t want one foot there and another foot here,” he said.The Embakasi East MP accused unnamed individuals of being sent to the movement to “bring nonsense and play games”, warning that Linda Mwananchi would not be intimidated or derailed.The remarks came as the opposition movement took its grassroots mobilisation campaign to Meru, seeking to build a broader national network ahead of the 2027 General Election. The Meru rally brought together Babu, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and former Meru governor Kawira Mwangaza, among other opposition figures.Babu used the platform to reaffirm his support for Sifuna, dismissing any suggestion of a rift between the two politicians.“There is nobody else here in Linda Mwananchi who knows this young man the way I know him, the things we have gone through with him in the ODM party until today. My brother Sifuna, I am with you 100 per cent,” he said.He also called for opposition leaders to close ranks ahead of the 2027 presidential contest, arguing that President Ruto could only be defeated if rival opposition formations united.
Read briefing 