The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has suspended the issuance of new matatu SACCO licences for two years, effective June 19, 2026. It has also halted the addition of new routes and extensions of existing ones for one year, except where a new road is commissioned. In the same directive, the Authority has frozen any changes to existing licensed routes, including pick-up and drop-off points, for a year, effectively locking the current public transport map in place. NTSA says the decision follows persistent non-compliance in the sector and growing safety concerns. It argues that frequent route changes have fuelled…
Author: Samuel Njihia
Zimbabwe’s parliament has voted through a constitutional amendment that could keep President Emmerson Mnangagwa in office until 2030, pushing through a change that would extend presidential terms from five to seven years. The National Assembly passed the bill with 216 votes, comfortably above the two-thirds majority needed. It now goes to the Senate, where approval is expected given the influence of ZANU-PF. If it becomes law, the shift would carry Mnangagwa past 2028, when his current term ends, and reset the country’s political calendar. Support for the move has been building inside the ruling party for some time. At rallies,…
A major United States–Iran agreement being presented as a regional peace deal is being hailed in Washington as a breakthrough, but there is still uncertainty over what it will change in practice across the Middle East. US Vice President JD Vance said on Tuesday the agreement goes beyond the United States and Iran, and is intended to include Israel, Lebanon and Gulf countries. Speaking in an interview with US media, he described it as a “true regional peace deal”. “It is a regional peace deal. It’s going to include the Gulf, it’s going to include Israel, it’s going to include…
A senior police officer died on Monday evening after a nine-vehicle crash at Karai, Naivasha, along the busy Nairobi–Nakuru Highway, in a collision that caused major disruption and left several vehicles badly damaged. Nyandarua County’s County Criminal Investigations Officer (CCIO), John Rioba, lost his life in a chain-reaction crash that began when a Sinotruk truck heading toward Nakuru reportedly lost control. The truck is said to have hit a Toyota Land Cruiser, forcing it into oncoming traffic where it collided with several vehicles, including lorries, matatus, private cars, and Rioba’s Isuzu D-Max. The crash happened shortly before 5 pm. Traffic…
Car dealers in Mombasa are protesting recent changes to the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) system and stricter enforcement of rules governing Dealer Registration (KD) number plates, saying the new measures have slowed down operations and disrupted the movement of imported vehicles. Through the Independent Car Dealers Association, they are now seeking an urgent meeting with the regulator, hoping to ease what they describe as growing friction between policy and practice on the ground. At the centre of the dispute is Section 24 of the Traffic Act, which restricts the use of dealer plates. The law bars KD plates…
Teachers who marked the 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations could finally receive their pay this week after waiting about six months for compensation. The government has allocated Sh1.5 billion to clear the outstanding dues, ending months of complaints from teachers and their unions over the delay. Many argued that examiners should not have to wait that long to be paid for work completed during a national exercise. National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi said the funds would be released this week after the government brought forward payments that had initially been planned for the 2026/27 financial year.…
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has set November 30, 2026, as the start date for the trial of former Philippine president Rodrigo Roa Duterte, who faces charges of crimes against humanity linked to his deadly “war on drugs”. In a statement on 27 May 2026, Trial Chamber III confirmed the schedule following a status conference involving the prosecution, defence, and legal representatives of victims. The Chamber said it had considered “the necessary time for the disclosure of evidence and other materials” and would resolve outstanding issues before proceedings begin. The bench is composed of Presiding Judge Joanna Korner, Judge Keebong…
The battle for Ol Kalou is turning into a political duel between President William Ruto’s UDA party and Rigathi Gachagua’s DCP outfit, with former Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria emerging as the man tasked with stopping Gachagua’s growing influence in the Mount Kenya region. Kuria has been handed control of UDA’s campaign machinery in the by-election triggered by the death of MP David Kiaraho on March 29. Although Jubilee is also fielding a candidate, attention has shifted to the fierce rivalry between Kuria and Gachagua, whose fallout has reshaped regional politics since Gachagua’s impeachment in 2024. The contest also carries a…
Adan Abdulla Mohamed has officially been sworn in as the new Commissioner General of the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), beginning a three-year term at a time when the government is under pressure to strengthen domestic revenue collection. The swearing-in ceremony took place at the Supreme Court on Wednesday, May 20, following his appointment by National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi. His appointment had earlier been published in a special issue of the Kenya Gazette dated May 18, 2026, and took effect on the same date. “In exercise of the powers conferred by section 11 (1) of the Kenya Revenue Authority…
Matatu operators have suspended their strike for one week, easing days of disruption that left many commuters stranded across most parts of the country. The move will allow talks between the government and transport stakeholders over fuel prices. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said on Tuesday that both sides agreed on the need for urgent discussions. “There was a need for negotiations with stakeholders at a high level, and they will take place within the next one week,” Mr Murkomen said. He added that the suspension would ease pressure on the public while allowing room for dialogue. “The strike is…
