Residents seek transparency, social investment as mining firm pursues prospects in Turkana South

Residents of Lokaburu in Turkana South have called for meaningful community engagement, improved social amenities and greater transparency as Wilken Energy Limited seeks community consent for proposed mineral prospecting activities in the area. The public sensitization meeting brought together county and national government officials, artisanal miners, community leaders, investors and residents to discuss the proposed...

Government calls for multi-sectoral approach to tackle effects of climate change 

Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, Dr. Deborah Barasa has stressed the need to strengthen agricultural reforms that will help mitigate effects of climate change. Speaking at Maridadi Primary school in Kwanza Sub-County, Trans Nzoia County during a climate action and improved livelihood sensitization program, Dr. Barasa said climate change mitigation measures require...

Magadi residents laud suspension of Tata Chemicals mining operations

A section of Magadi residents have welcomed the suspension of mining operations by Tata Chemicals Magadi Limited, saying the move will give the community an opportunity to have long-standing grievances against the company addressed. The residents, led by Magadi Ward Member of County Assembly Isaac Kiresian and members of the Ilmakati Professional Association (IPA), commended...

Voters vow to elect leaders based on merit

It is evident that the practice of electing leaders based on ethnicity and the familiar he or she is our person mantra has, over the years, denied many communities the opportunity to benefit from visionary and competent leadership.  As Kenya steadily moves towards the next General Election, an increasing number of residents in Tinderet Sub...

Elgeyo Marakwet county government to offer free VTC training

The Elgeyo Marakwet County Government has announced a major boost to local vocational training, offering free tuition for all students joining Vocational Training Centres (VTCs) and hiring 40 new instructors to address severe staff shortages. Governor Wisley Rotich announced the directive at the Iten Youth Polytechnic during a graduation ceremony for 346 students. Under the...

Hospitals Put on Notice for Denying Patients Emergency Treatment

This follows a rise in the number of complaints of patients seeking emergency treatment who have either been denied services or simply turned away.

EPRA Caps Borrowing for Future Oil Projects Ahead of Commercial Production

Under the proposals, firms that fail to allow for audits risk being fined with figures of up to Ksh20 million, with the regulations coming months ahead of commercial oil drilling in Kenya.

Fresh Details Emerge in Alleged Shooting of Dr Victoria Mutiso

Detectives are also investigating claims that the researcher had initially reported receiving death threats nearly four weeks before her shooting.

Landowners Put on Notice as Govt Announces Fresh Compulsory Land Acquisition for Multi-Billion Project

The multibillion-shilling highway is meant to relieve heavy truck and commuter congestion, raising average speeds from 10–30 km/h up to 50–80 km/h in the transport corridor.

UDA Wins Over Another Defector as Machakos Politician Joins Ruto's Camp

The race for supremacy in a region traditionally perceived as a swing region continues to heat up as opposition and the government fight for support.

Former Governor Okoth Obado's Son Hospitalised

Former Migori County Governor Okoth Obado was found guilty of the 2018 murder of 26-year-old Rongo University student and expectant mother Sharon Otieno.

Water Bills Set to Rise in Six Counties as Regulator Approves New Tariffs

The charges are to take effect immediately till July 14 next year, with the board saying that they are a proper quality assessment criteria has been used to calculate the new charges.

DCI Steps In After CCTV Footage Sheds New Light on Missing Businessman Jimmy Mutava

Minutes after CCTV captured the businessman leaving a meeting in Mlolongo, he vanished without a trace as detectives now pursue new leads.

State Issues 60-Day Notice After Moi's Son Reports Lost Title Deeds

The reconstruction of lost land title deeds is a normal procedural process carried out by key institutions in the country.

Factories, Developers Put on Notice as NEMA Designates Official Pollution Testing Labs

NEMA is tightening its grip as fresh measures signal a renewed push to strengthen compliance and crack down on pollution.

Siasa sasa zapelekwa WhatsApp uchaguzi wa 2027 ukikaribia

KATIKA siasa za Kenya za sasa, mapambano makali hayafanyiki tena kwenye mikutano ya hadhara, Bunge au runinga pekee. Sasa vita hivyo vimechacha kwenye makundi ya WhatsApp. Makundi yaliyoundwa awali kwa ajili ya kuratibu shughuli na kuhamasisha wafuasi sasa yamegeuka kuwa uwanja wa kupimana nguvu, kujenga au kuvunja ushirikiano na kuonyesha uaminifu wa kisiasa. Kuongezwa, kuondolewa au hata kuzimwa kwenye kundi sasa ni ujumbe wa kisiasa unaoweza kuzua mjadala mkubwa. Hapo awali, wanaoasi walikuwa wakifukuzwa kutoka afisi za vyama au kuzuiwa kuhudhuria mikutano. Leo, hatua hiyo hufanyika kwa kubofya kitufe cha kuwaondoa kwenye kundi la WhatsApp. Aidha, makundi hayo yamekuwa mahali pa mijadala mikali kuhusu misimamo ya vyama. Baadhi ya mapendekezo huzimwa humo kabla hata hayajafika bungeni, huku mengine yakianza kama mjadala wa WhatsApp na baadaye kuibuka kwenye mijadala ya Seneti na Bunge la Kitaifa. Mvutano unaoendelea ndani ya ODM kati ya viongozi wa mrengo wa Linda Mwananchi na uongozi wa chama unaendelezwa kwa kiasi kikubwa kupitia makundi hayo. Wiki iliyopita, wabunge wanaohusishwa na mrengo huo waliondolewa kwenye kundi la WhatsApp la Kundi la Wabunge wa ODM, ambalo hutumika kupanga ajenda za chama na kuelekeza wabunge jinsi ya kupiga kura au kujadili miswada. Walioondolewa ni pamoja na Maseneta Edwin Sifuna wa Nairobi, Godfrey Osotsi wa Vihiga na Richard Onyonka wa Kisii. Wabunge Babu Owino, Caroli Omondi, Caleb Amisi, Anthony Kibagendi, Clive Gisairo na Wilberforce Oundo pia walitimuliwa kwenye kundi hilo. Bw Sifuna alisema baada ya mkutano wa kisiasa Kitale waligundua wameondolewa kwenye kundi hilo, hatua aliyofasiriwa kama ishara kwamba uongozi wa ODM hauwataki tena. Kwa upande wake, Seneta Osotsi alisema hii si mara ya kwanza kwao kufutwa kwenye makundi ya chama. Alikumbuka kuwa mapema mwaka huu baadhi yao waliondolewa kwenye kundi la Baraza Kuu la Kitaifa (NEC) kabla ya kupokonywa nyadhifa za chama. Alisema hatua hiyo inaonyesha kuwa wameonekana kama watu wasiostahili kuwa ndani ya ODM na sasa wanatafakari kusitisha michango yao ya kila mwezi kwa chama. Mivutano hiyo pia ilijitokeza wakati wa kuondolewa kwa Bw Sifuna kama Naibu Kiranja wa Wachache katika Seneti. Taarifa ya mkutano ilitumwa kupitia WhatsApp, jambo lililosababisha mabishano makali kabla ya mkutano huo kugeuka vurugu. Hata hivyo, tukio lililovuta hisia zaidi lilikuwa kuondolewa kwa aliyekuwa Naibu Rais Rigathi Gachagua kwenye kundi la WhatsApp la Ikulu wakati wa tofauti zake na Rais William Ruto. Bw Gachagua alisema yeye, katibu wake binafsi na mkuu wa wafanyakazi wake waliondolewa kwenye kundi hilo, hatua iliyowafanya washindwe kupata taarifa kuhusu ratiba ya Rais na shughuli rasmi za Ikulu. Muda mfupi baadaye aling'olewa mamlakani kupitia mchakato wa kumbandua. Mbunge wa Embakasi Central Benjamin Gathiru, maarufu kama Mejja Donk, alisema wabunge wengi wanaoonekana kumuunga mkono Bw Gachagua pia wameondolewa kwenye makundi ya Kenya Kwanza na UDA. Anasema hatua hiyo imewanyima taarifa za mikutano ya chama na shughuli nyingine za kisiasa. Kwa sababu hiyo, amesema alipunguza mchango wake wa kila mwezi kwa chama kutoka Sh20,000 hadi Sh500. Kwa mujibu wa wanasiasa mbalimbali, makundi ya WhatsApp sasa ni nyenzo muhimu katika kampeni za uchaguzi. Hutumika kupanga mikutano ya kisiasa, kuajiri wahudumu wa kujitolea, kusambaza ratiba za kampeni na kueneza ujumbe kwa wafuasi. Lakini pamoja na manufaa hayo, makundi hayo pia yamegeuka njia ya ujasusi wa kisiasa. Wapinzani hujiingiza kwenye makundi hayo na kutoa mikakati ya siri kwa hasimu wao. Katika kitabu chake Unwritten Political Rules, Cathy Irungu anaeleza jinsi watu waliodaiwa kuwa vibaraka walivyopenya kwenye timu ya kampeni ya Raila Odinga mwaka 2022 na kupata taarifa muhimu kupitia makundi ya WhatsApp. Na kadiri uchaguzi mkuu wa 2027 unavyokaribia, WhatsApp inatarajiwa kuendelea kuwa silaha muhimu ya kisiasa. Hata hivyo, wachambuzi wanaonya kuwa jukwaa hilo pia linaongeza kasi ya kusambaa kwa habari za uongo, kauli za kughushi na video zilizohaririwa ambazo zinaweza kupotosha umma. Wachambuzi wa siasa wanasema matumizi ya WhatsApp yamebadili kabisa namna vyama vya kisiasa vinavyofanya maamuzi. Tofauti na zamani ambapo viongozi walilazimika kukutana ana kwa ana ili kujadili masuala muhimu, sasa maamuzi mengi hufanyika kupitia simu za mkononi. Mikutano ya dharura hupangwa ndani ya dakika chache, huku taarifa zikisambazwa kwa mamia ya wanachama kwa wakati mmoja. Hata hivyo, kasi hiyo imeambatana na changamoto nyingi. Ujumbe unaovuja kutoka kwenye makundi ya viongozi mara nyingi huzua mizozo ya kisiasa na kuwapa wapinzani nafasi ya kufahamu mikakati ya vyama. Wakati mwingine picha za mazungumzo ya siri husambazwa mitandaoni na kusababisha viongozi kulaumiana kwa usaliti au kuvuja kwa taarifa. Kutokana na hali hiyo, baadhi ya vyama sasa vimeweka masharti makali kuhusu matumizi ya makundi ya WhatsApp. Wanachama wanaotuhumiwa kuvuja siri au kupinga maamuzi ya chama huondolewa kwenye makundi hayo au kunyamazishwa wasichangie mijadala. Hatua hizo zimegeuza WhatsApp kuwa chombo chenye ushawishi mkubwa katika siasa za kisasa, ambapo kubaki au kuondolewa kwenye kundi kunaweza kufasiriwa kama ishara ya kupanda au kushuka kwa ushawishi wa mwanasiasa ndani ya chama chake.

Talk of Town: Big man's midnight missed call leaves politician regretting

Attempts to return the 1am call after daybreak or reach the big man through intermediaries have...

CS Murkomen: All the numbers I've seen show Ruto will win

The Odyssey, the world's greatest travel story

It is the story of the Greek hero, Odysseus, as he struggles to return to his palatial home on...

Murder or suicide? Murang'a village demands answers over man's mysterious death

An impromptu baraza was held at the scene where Matrhu was found dead kneeling with a rope on...