Kenya’s anti-corruption fight is taking a new turn, with the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) putting greater emphasis on prevention and calling on the media to play a central role. Speaking in Nairobi on Tuesday, EACC Chief Executive Officer Abdi A. Mohamud said the Commission is moving beyond a heavy reliance on arrests and prosecutions. “While arrests capture headlines, prevention saves futures,” he said during a workshop bringing together journalists and anti-graft officials. Mohamud said the agency is scaling up efforts to stop corruption before it happens through risk assessments, public education and tighter controls in public institutions. In the…
Author: Samuel Njihia
Humphrey Wattanga, the outgoing Commissioner General of the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), has been nominated for appointment as Kenya’s new High Commissioner to South Africa, following the announcement of his departure on Wednesday. KRA Board Chair Ndiritu Muriithi confirmed that Wattanga had begun his terminal leave with immediate effect. Later that evening, President William Ruto made the nomination, as indicated in a notification of presidential action issued by Head of Public Service Felix Koskei. In the same announcement, President Ruto also nominated Dr. Julius Murori Mbijiwe as Ambassador to the Vatican. Additionally, Ambassadors Irene Maswan and Judy Muthoni Njau were…
The United Kingdom has appointed Matt Baugh as its new High Commissioner to Kenya, replacing Neil Wigan, who left Nairobi in August 2025 for a senior role in London. Baugh is expected to arrive in Nairobi within the month and will take over from acting head Dr Ed Barnett. A career diplomat, Baugh brings extensive experience from postings across Africa and Europe. He served as the UK’s ambassador to Somalia from 2010 to 2013 and later represented Britain on the EU Political and Security Committee in Brussels. In recent years, he has held senior roles covering migration, conflict, and Euro-Atlantic…
The Council of Governors (CoG) has strongly defended Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja following an attempted police arrest over his failure to honour Senate summons, describing the move as intimidation and an abuse of oversight powers. Speaking during a press briefing, CoG Chairperson Ahmed Abdullahi said the attempt to arrest Sakaja was unwarranted and failed to recognise that governors had collectively resolved to boycott appearances before the Senate County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC). “This matter is not a personal issue concerning one governor but a collective decision made by the Council of Governors,” Abdullahi said. The statement came after police officers…
US President Donald Trump signalled a potential escalation in the Gulf conflict on Monday, openly raising the possibility of seizing Iran’s Kharg Island oil terminal, even as early ceasefire efforts showed tentative progress. Speaking amid ongoing US and Israeli strikes on Iran, Trump said Tehran had agreed to allow 20 oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz as “a sign of respect”. At the same time, with roughly 2,500 U.S. Marines already deployed and more on the way, he underscored the range of military options available, saying: “Maybe we take Kharg Island, maybe we don’t. We have a…
Tensions have emerged within Kenya Kwanza as Ford Kenya publicly rebuked the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) over calls for affiliate parties to dissolve and fold into the President’s political outfit ahead of the 2027 General Election. Ford Kenya, led by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, accused UDA of undermining partnership agreements that helped deliver victory in 2022. The party’s Secretary-General John Chikati described the push to merge as hostile to democratic pluralism. In a strongly worded statement, Ford Kenya said the proposal amounts to “a direct affront to the democratic space” and warned it could push the country towards…
Iran’s military has dismissed recent claims by US President Donald Trump about possible negotiations, vowing instead to press on with its fight. Meanwhile, joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran are ongoing, as Iranian missile launches trigger sirens across Israel, forcing residents to take cover in shelters. In the Gulf, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia report intercepting incoming missiles and drones, while Kuwait says a strike on a fuel tank caused a fire at its main airport. At the same time, Israeli forces have carried out air raids on Beirut and are advancing deeper into southern Lebanon, following announcements of plans to take…
Nairobi police say all workers at a construction site in Westlands have now been accounted for following a partial building collapse that left several injured. According to Nairobi Police Commander Issa Mohamud, two workers managed to escape unharmed, while another was rescued with injuries. One person later died from injuries sustained after being pulled from the rubble. “Investigations are ongoing to establish the cause of the collapse. We have accounted for all workers at the scene,” he said, adding that authorities are also looking into why construction was taking place at night. The incident happened at around 8pm along School…
Air travellers have been thrown into disarray after flights between Western Europe and the Middle East were abruptly cancelled following US and Israeli strikes on Iran. Donald Trump confirmed on Saturday that a “major combat operation” had taken place, triggering widespread disruption across the region. In response to the escalating conflict, both Iran and Iraq shut their airspace, forcing airlines to rethink established routes almost overnight. With Israel launching missiles towards Iran and Tehran responding in kind, aircraft that would typically pass over those countries have been diverted. Footage from flight tracking website Flightradar24 shows a steady overnight flow of…
The Open Society Foundations has condemned the arbitrary detention of its Managing Director of Programs, Brian Kagoro, by Kenyan authorities. Kagoro was held for over ten hours after arriving at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi on Sunday night. During this time, he was questioned, denied entry, and eventually sent back to Johannesburg. The foundation reports that no formal charges were filed and no written explanation was provided for his deportation following questioning by national intelligence officers. “Kagoro has never been charged with or convicted of any criminal offence,” the statement said. “The removal order authorising the air carrier to…
