Two people died and several others were injured after a massive fire tore through Nairobi’s Gikomba Market in the early hours of Sunday, destroying property worth millions of shillings and raising questions about safety measures at the city’s largest open-air market. The cause of the fire had not been established bas of Sunday evening, but the blaze left large sections of the market in ruins, with traders returning at daybreak to assess the damage and salvage whatever they could from the debris. “I could not save anything,” one trader said, estimating her losses at more than 100,000. Preliminary assessments by…
Author: Davin Muthoni
Hundreds of thousands of university and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) students could miss out on full government funding next year after budget estimates revealed a significant shortfall in allocations for loans and scholarships. The 2026/27 Budget Estimates show that the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) and the Universities Fund are facing a combined funding deficit of more than Sh72 billion, raising concerns about the sustainability of higher education financing and access for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. According to the estimates presented by National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi, HELB has been allocated Sh56.3 billion against a requirement…
The National Police Service (NPS) has launched investigations into the invasion of All Saints’ Cathedral in Nairobi by suspected goons who disrupted a post-budget forum on Friday. In a statement issued on Sunday, the police said detectives were reviewing CCTV footage captured during the incident, with two suspects already in custody as investigations continue. “This incident will be investigated thoroughly, professionally, transparently, and impartially to ensure that all those involved are brought to justice. Further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses,” NPS said. Police have also appealed to members of the public to share any information that could…
Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata has joined the Linda Mwananchi movement, signalling a new political alignment in the Mt Kenya region as preparations for the 2027 General Election gather momentum. Kang’ata, who recently parted ways with the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA), made the announcement during a rally at Kivulini Grounds in Thika, where opposition leaders criticised President William Ruto’s administration and urged Kenyans to vote for change in the next election. Addressing supporters, the governor accused the government of failing to address the rising cost of living, unemployment and the challenges facing businesses across the country. He also faulted some…
Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has proposed a raft of changes to Kenya’s tax administration system, including new deadlines for filing tax returns, as the government seeks to strengthen compliance and give the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) more time to verify taxpayer information. Under the proposals contained in the 2026/27 Budget Policy Highlights, Kenyans filing nil returns would be required to submit them within one month after the end of the year of income. Individuals whose income is fully taxed at source, including salaried employees earning only employment income, would have four months to file their returns, while all other…
Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua has rejected the Sh50 million compensation awarded to him by the High Court, describing the payout as insufficient and insisting that his fight is about justice and constitutional accountability rather than money. Speaking on Tuesday, a day after the High Court upheld his impeachment, Gachagua criticised the ruling, arguing that the court contradicted itself by finding that his right to a fair hearing had been violated while still allowing the impeachment to stand. “The Sh50 million awarded to me is an insult to my fundamental rights and freedoms and a mockery…
President William Ruto’s administration has reassigned Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok to the State Department for Tourism in the latest government reshuffle, with Tourism PS John Lekakeny Ololtuaa taking over the education docket. The changes were announced on Tuesday by Head of Public Service Felix Koskei, who said the reassignments took effect immediately. Bitok leaves the education sector after serving as Principal Secretary for Basic Education since March 2025, when he swapped positions with Belio Kipsang, who moved to the State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services. Ololtuaa assumes the Basic Education portfolio at a time when the government…
Police on Tuesday fired tear gas to disperse protesters in Nanyuki, Laikipia County, who were demonstrating against the planned establishment of a US-linked Ebola quarantine and treatment facility. The demonstrators, some waving Kenyan flags and carrying placards, also staged symbolic protests, including a coffin marked “Ebola,” demanding that the project be halted. Security officers blocked several groups as early as 8am, leading to running clashes in parts of the town. The protests came despite a notice issued by local police banning the demonstrations over security concerns following earlier violent protests in the area. In the notice to a human rights…
A dispute over the amount of money to be allocated to county governments in the 2026/27 financial year remained unresolved on Monday after the Senate and National Assembly failed to agree on a revenue-sharing formula. Members of the mediation committee formed to reconcile differences on the Division of Revenue Bill 2026 ended their meeting without a breakthrough, leaving a Sh18 billion gap. The Senate is pushing for counties to receive Sh443 billion, while the National Assembly is standing by its proposal of Sh425 billion. The mediation committee, co-chaired by Mandera Senator Ali Roba and Alego Usonga MP Samuel Atandi, comprises…
The High Court has ordered the Senate to pay former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua Sh50 million in constitutional damages after finding that his right to a fair hearing was violated during the impeachment proceedings that led to his removal from office in October 2024. In a landmark judgment delivered on Monday, a three-judge bench comprising Justices Eric Ogola, Anthony Mrima and Freda Mugambi ruled that the Senate infringed Gachagua’s fair trial rights when it declined to adjourn the proceedings despite his absence. The court held that compensation was necessary to remedy the constitutional violation and protect the integrity of due…
