Nakuru adopts 'Just City' concept to enhance service delivery

The County Government of Nakuru is implementing the 'Just City Model', an urban planning framework that prioritises social justice, democratic governance and sustainable urban development to address rapid urban expansion and economic inequalities through support from the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) Kenya Office. The model seeks to shift urban centres in all 11 sub-counties from unequal spaces...

Raila 'closed' a trade conference before it began

The Siaya International Trade and Investment Conference (SITICO) had been billed as an event that would lead to the economic turnaround of the county, and for months, top county officials had crisscrossed the country inviting potential investors. As the organisers worked late into the night to ensure its success and even managed to win the...

Nandi elders threaten to curse politicians hiring goons

Elders from the Talai and Nandi Kaburwo communities have threatened to curse and excommunicate politicians found hiring goons to intimidate rivals, warning that political violence could undermine peace and democracy. Speaking at Koitalel University in Nandi Hills town, where they blessed the institution ahead of its official opening, the elders condemned the growing culture of...

Winnie Odinga Declares Interest in Nairobi Senatorial Seat

The daughter of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has revealed her new political direction, as she sets her eye on a Nairobi seat.

Kenyan Truck Driver Reportedly Killed in DRC

Incidences involving captures or killings of Kenyan long distance drivers in DRC continue to rise, with governments urged to to strengthen cross-border security coordination and information sharing.

Call for mindset shift towards TVETs

The youth have been strongly urged to embrace Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to secure self-reliance and drive socio-economic growth. The call was made by the Principal Secretaries (PSs) Dr. Esther Muoria, State Department for TVET, and her counterpart for the State Department for Youth Affairs and the Creative Economy, Fikirini Jacobs. The...

Kenya moves to unite youth in agriculture under a regional platform

Kenya is working to establish a national chapter of the Youth in Agrifood Systems in East Africa (YASE) platform to bring together fragmented youth groups and strengthen their participation in agricultural development. The proposed chapter will provide a coordinated mechanism for young people, engaged in agriculture and related value chains to influence policy decisions, access...

Second Ebola case confirmed in Kenya

Kenya has confirmed a second case of Ebola (Bundibugyo Virus Disease), with health authorities saying contact tracing and quarantine measures are helping to detect infections early. The Ministry of Health said the patient, a 39-year-old man and close family member of the first case, developed fever, fatigue and joint pains on October 13, while in...

The Machakos County Assembly is facing a looming operational crisis, following a prolonged deadlock over the 2026/2027 financial year budget, with Members of County Assembly (MCAs) warning that salaries and allowances for October could be delayed. The legislators, led by Majority Leader Nicholas Nzioka, said the absence of an approved budget had left the Assembly...

Section of Farmers Turn to Goat Milk Amid Shortages

In January 2025, the government had already taken steps to introduce domesticated water buffaloes into Kenya's food industry.

Congolese National in Ksh10 Billion Gold Case Dealt New Blow After JKIA Arrest

The suspect was intercepted while preparing to leave the country, leading to fresh charges and renewed scrutiny of his travel documents.

Nakuru County Ordered to Vacate War Memorial Hospital Land

The hospital has remained largely non-operational since the County Government of Nakuru took over its operations in 2024.

Ushuru mpya wa chai wazua hofu kwa wakulima

KANUNI mpya za ushuru wa chai za mwaka 2026 zimezua mjadala katika sekta hiyo huku wakulima wadogo wakihoji iwapo gharama hizo zitapunguza mapato yao na kusababisha kutozwa ushuru mara mbili. Kanuni hizo zimewasilishwa upya Bungeni baada ya Mbunge wa Gatundu Kusini George Kagombe, aliyekuwa mdhamini wa mapendekezo ya awali, kulaumiwa kwa kulenga maslahi yake binafsi katika sekta ya chai. Kagombe pia alitajwa kuwa mkurugenzi wa eneo wa Shirika la Maendeleo ya Chai (KTDA). Spika wa Bunge la Kitaifa Moses Wetang'ula alirejesha suala hilo kwa wabunge baada ya malalamishi yaliyowasilishwa na Dkt John Kennedy Omanga kuruhusiwa, na kubainika kuwa Kagombe hakutangaza maslahi yake kama inavyotakiwa na kanuni za Bunge. Mkurugenzi mkuu wa Bodi ya Chai nchini (TBK), Willy Mutai, hata hivyo, amehakikishia wakulima kuwa ushuru huo hautakatwa kutoka kwa malipo yao ya kila mwezi wala bonasi ya kila mwaka. Katika mahojiano na Taifa Leo, Mutai alisema ushuru huo utatozwa waagizaji na wanaosafirishaji chai nje ya nchi, wala si wakulima au viwanda vya chai. "Mapato ya wakulima kutokana na malipo ya kila mwezi na bonasi ya kila mwaka yataendelea kuwa kama yalivyoamuliwa na viwanda vyao," alisema. Chini ya kanuni hizo, wasafirishaji wa chai watalipa ushuru wa asilimia 0.8 ya thamani ya chai inayouzwa moja kwa moja au kupitia minada, huku waagizaji wakitozwa asilimia 100 ya thamani ya kila shehena ya chai inayoingizwa nchini. Mutai alisema ushuru huo unalenga kufadhili utafiti, kutangaza chai ya Kenya katika masoko ya kimataifa, kuboresha miundombinu na kuimarisha mapato ya wakulima. Asilimia 50 ya fedha hizo zitaelekezwa kwa hazina ya kuleta uthabiti wa bei ya chai, asilimia 20 kwa Taasisi ya Utafiti wa Chai iliyoko Kericho, asilimia 15 kwa serikali za kaunti zinazolima chai kwa ajili ya miundombinu na asilimia 15 kwa TBK. Alisema fedha hizo zitakaguliwa kwa mujibu wa sheria za usimamizi wa fedha za umma, huku matokeo ya ukaguzi yakitarajiwa kuwekwa wazi. Mutai alitaja ushindani katika soko la kimataifa kama sababu nyingine ya kuanzishwa kwa ushuru huo. Kenya huuza chai katika masoko 100, lakini asilimia 85 ya mauzo yake yanategemea masoko 10, yakiwemo Pakistan, Iran, Uingereza, Urusi na Misri. Bodi hiyo inalenga kupanua soko hadi Amerika Kaskazini, Afrika Magharibi, China na maeneo mengine ya Asia. Wakati huo huo, wakulima wanaanza kupokea bonasi ya mwaka ya msimu wa 2025/2026, huku viwanda vya KTDA vikitarajiwa kulipa kati ya Sh12.50 na Sh50 kwa kila kilo ya majani, kutegemea masoko ya ndani na nje. Mutai alisema ushuru huo utasaidia kuboresha utafiti, huduma za ugani, uzalishaji na ubora wa chai, hatua zinazotarajiwa kuongeza ushindani na mapato ya wakulima. Hata hivyo, maswali kuhusu athari za ushuru huo kwa gharama za biashara na uwezekano wa gharama hizo kuhamishiwa kwa wadau wengine yanaendelea kusubiri majibu huku kanuni hizo zikisubiri hatua za Bunge.

Kukosa kutoka jasho ni ulemavu? Jamii yataka kutambuliwa rasmi

JAMII ya Ilimanyang katika Kaunti ya Turkana inataka itambuliwe rasmi kama watu wenye ulemavu kutokana na hali adimu ya kiafya inayowafanya washindwe kutoa jasho, jambo linalohatarisha maisha yao katika joto kali la eneo hilo. Jamii hiyo inayokadiriwa kuwa na watu 600, wengi wao wakiishi katika kijiji cha Kapua, Turkana ya Kati, hulazimika kunyunyiziwa maji  mara kwa mara ili kupunguza joto na kuzuia miili yao kupata joto kupita kiasi. Mwenyekiti wa Tume ya Kitaifa ya Jinsia na Usawa (NGEC), Rehema Jaldesa, amesema tume hiyo itashirikiana na wataalamu wa afya kufanya uchunguzi kubaini hali hiyo na hatua zinazofaa kuchukuliwa. Afisa mkuu wa huduma za afya Turkana, Gilchrist Lokoel, alisema dalili zilizoripotiwa zinafanana na ugonjwa adimu wa kurithi unaojulikana kama hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (HED), unaoweza kuathiri tezi za jasho, nywele na meno. Hata hivyo, alisema uchunguzi wa kina unahitajika kuthibitisha iwapo jamii hiyo ina ugonjwa huo. Nancy Ebolon, ambaye amekuwa akipigania haki za watu wa Ilimanyang, alisema waathiriwa hulazimika kula mara kwa mara na kunyunyiziwa maji ili kuendelea kuishi katika mazingira yenye joto kali. "Mtu hapa Ilimanyang huzimia asipokula ndani ya saa moja au asipopata maji ya kunyunyiziwa mwilini baada ya nusu saa. Hali ikizidi kuwa mbaya, hufariki," alisema. Alisema watoto wanaozaliwa na hali hiyo wako katika hatari kubwa zaidi, kwani huhitaji uangalizi wa karibu na kupozwa mara kwa mara ili kuzuia miili yao kupata joto kupita kiasi. Mbali na changamoto za kiafya, jamii hiyo inakabiliwa na unyanyapaa na imani potofu. Baadhi ya watoto wanaozaliwa na hali hiyo hukataliwa na baba zao, hali inayozidisha mateso ya familia zinazowalea. Elimu pia imeathirika kutokana na mazingira magumu wanayoishi. Jaldesa alisema baadhi ya wanafunzi hulazimika kusafiri kilomita 120 kwenda na kurudi ili kufanya mitihani ya kitaifa. "Mtoto anawezaje kusafiri kilomita 120 katika joto kali kwa siku moja ili kufanya mtihani?" aliuliza, akitaka mipango maalumu ya kuwasaidia wanafunzi hao. Jaldesa alisema NGEC itaratibu kambi ya matibabu na kushirikisha Baraza la Kitaifa la Watu Wenye Ulemavu ili kubaini uwezekano wa jamii hiyo kusajiliwa na kupata msaada wa serikali. Kutambuliwa kama walemavu kunaweza kuwawezesha watu wa jamii hiyo kupata huduma maalumu za afya, elimu na ulinzi wa kijamii. Hata hivyo, jamii hiyo pia inakabiliwa na uhaba wa maji, umaskini na changamoto za kupata vitambulisho vya taifa na vyeti vya kuzaliwa, hali inayoweza kuwazuia kupata huduma muhimu. Wanatumai kuwa kutambuliwa rasmi kutasaidia kupunguza ubaguzi na kufungua njia ya kupata huduma zinazozingatia mahitaji yao ya kipekee.

Elderly Kericho couple seeks livelihood from scrap business

Jua Kali Enterprises continues to provide livelihoods for families across the country, with artisans transforming locally available materials into household items. However, for 77-year-old Peter Muiruri Mbugua and his 68-year-old wife, Nelly Nduta, the trade has become a lifelong commitment that has sustained their family for decades. Through their business, Jehovah Jireh Tinsmith, the couple...

Nyandarua students want mentorship programmes enhanced

College students from Nyandarua County have expressed frustration over insufficient financial aid, noting that limited bursaries often fail to cover rising tuition and living costs. To counter this, the students are calling for enhanced mentorship programmes to provide guidance, career pathways and networking opportunities that can offset financial hardships. Speaking on the sidelines of an...

Garissa residents exploit flood havoc for farming

Floods, especially in the Northeastern region and parts of Tana River counties, are known to cause havoc: loss of lives, destruction of properties, sweeping of farms along River Tana, and sometimes livestock is not spared. For every rain season, the government, non-governmental organisations and development partners are caught up in a continuous cycle to put...

Bicycle boda boda remains a lifeline for Busia residents

As the morning sun shines over Busia town, the streets slowly come alive. Matatus hoot scrambling for passengers, and motorbike engines reverberate loudly as pedestrians are in a rush hour to their destinations. Among this busy movement is a group of men on bicycles, some slipping through narrow paths left by transit trucks and other...

ORPP Issues Notice Over Sifuna's Linda Mwananchi Movement

Edwin Sifuna's Linda Mwananchi ODM faction had faced a lot of drama when it came to the aquisition of and retention of the party name.

Mama Ida Explains Oburu's Absence from Raila's Memorial

After crowds chanted Oburu's name and demanded information on his whereabouts, Mama Ida revealed the reason behind his absence at Raila's memorial.