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Eyes on Ruto, Raila, Kalonzo, and Gachagua on corruption crackdown

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By Anderson Ojwang

Kenyans, and the International Community will be watching closely whether the country’s top leaders President William Ruto, former prime minister Raila Odinga, and the opposition will support the Multi Agency team when it embarks on corruption crackdown or negate the noble agenda.

The crackdown on corruption should not be undermined by intervention through Ruto, Raila, opposition leaders Kalonzo Musyoka, Rigathi Gachagua, Martha Karua among others by playing community and party victims cards on the corruption crusade.

The agency should be given free mandate to arrest and prosecute those engaged in corrupt dealings regardless of their status in the government or opposition.

Ruto recently declared that team will be given a free hand to tackle the run-away corruption in the country and that there will be no phone calls to slow and prevail on the team to spare ‘sacred cows’.

Yesterday, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) revealed that  in  the past eight months, it has completed 89 cases, forwarding 82 of them to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for action.

The Chief Executive officer (CEO) Mr. Abdi Ahmed Mohamud  said investigations were underway, among them cases involving five sitting  and 11 former governors facing allegations of embezzlement of public funds, money laundering, and unexplained wealth.

“Four of the cases involve current and former County Governors; two former Cabinet Secretaries, a Principal Secretary and CEOs and MDs of various State Corporations.

“Over the past eight months, the Commission has completed eighty-nine (89) high-profile cases. These investigation files have been submitted to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), with recommendations to prosecute eighty-two (82) of the cases.

In addition, the Commission is at an advanced stage of investigating five sitting Governors, 11 former Governors. These investigations relate to allegations of embezzlement of public funds, conflict of interest, money laundering, and possession of unexplained wealth, among other offenses under the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act.

In the counties, the Commission is pursuing cases worth Ksh1.6 billion involving over 800 officials linked to irregular payrolls, allowances, and loan embezzlement.

This year, the commission has  recovered 12 properties corruptly acquired, valued at approximately Ksh 600M and over Ksh105M in cash.

Further, it has averted the possible loss of Ksh7.2 B through proactive investigations,” he said.

President William Ruto during the recent Devolution Conference in Homa Bay and ODM-Kenya Kwanza parliamentary group meeting claimed the legislature was breeding corruption by demanding bribes from cabinet secretaries and governors.

“I have made it absolutely clear  to the chair of the Anti-corruption  commission and to the CEO  that  there will be no sacred cows and there will be no telephone calls anywhere below or above to stop anybody from being prosecuted  for matters of corruption,” he said.

Ruto accused the parliament to be breeding and call for an end to the vice where the bicameral parliament have turned the  house committees into money minting  rings and ignoring their oversight responsibilities.

“There is something going on in our legislature that we must call out. There is money being demanded from the executives and governors, from ministers, and from people in the executives especially for those who go for accountability  before our house committees in the parliament.

It cannot continue to be business as usual , it is not possible that committees of parliament  demand to be bribed and paid for them to write report or to look the other way for what is happening in the national government or the county government.

Somebody who has stolen public funds and then goes to court and then gets anticipatory bail. This makes it impossible for such a person to be arrested and prosecuted,” he said.

“What is the job of chair of welfare in the committees? What is the job? Extortion and that is what is the prime minister Raila Odinga was saying. You know what is Soko uhuru. Tell me. You know Soko uhuru.

Let me ask you for example members of the parliament seated here, do you for example know that a few members of your committee collected sh 10 m so that could pass the law on anti-money laundering. Did you get  the money? So going forward, there are people who are destroying credibility of parliament and they are collecting money in the name of parliament.

And some of the time that money never gets to parliament but it gets to a few people. We are not going to a shame them but we are going to arrest them. Do we agree?”

Raila said “The issue of extortion is real. Every committee has a got a member who is the welfare chairperson, this is  giving a bad image of the parliament. Members of the parliament should not be soliciting bribes from  the executives.

The environment we are creating in this country is very hostile to investments. Foreign investors who comes into the country bring their resources  to invest it here.

And when they bring their resources and find there is too much bureaucracy and there is too much extortion. They run away private capital is risk shy.

We need to slay this animal called corruption. Corruption in the judiciary, legislature and the executive, in the media, and private sector.”

Kalonzo Musyoka claimed “ We estimate Ksh.1 trillion as budgeted corruption for the next financial year… In light of these grievous transgressions, we as a coalition urge the international community, civil society organizations and concerned citizens both at home and abroad to stand in solidarity with Kenyans in condemning the Kenya Kwanza regime’s blatant disregard for the public good.”

Mohamud acknowledged the frustrations of Kenyans regarding the vice, pledging to upscale both preventive and enforcement efforts.

“Notwithstanding the aforementioned interventions, there is a continued feeling by Kenyans, especially the youthful population, that the level of corruption in the country is on the increase. This concerns the Commission as it does every responsible citizen of this country.

While the Commission acknowledges the frustration by Kenyans, I wish to assure the country that the Commission will upscale both its preventive and enforcement mandates geared towards effectively combating corruption in the country”, he committed.

The Economic Pathway Redefining Forex Market and Debt

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By Billy Mijungu

Kenya’s debt story is one of the greatest lessons of our time. It has been painful, heavy, and at times humiliating, but out of it comes wisdom that can shape our future for generations. For years we have tied ourselves to borrowing practices that left us vulnerable, servicing loans in currencies we do not produce, especially the dollar. This has drained our reserves and put constant pressure on our economy. The time has come to change course and redefine how we approach both debt and trade.

The first lesson is that Parliament must never take a back seat in debt management. It is not enough to leave decisions in the hands of the President and the Treasury. We have seen what happens when a head of state mortgages the country in pursuit of personal projects. Uhuru Kenyatta’s era is a reminder that initiatives tied to heavy borrowing can haunt citizens for decades. Kenyans may still be repaying some of these loans long after his presidency. Oversight must be firm and deliberate to avoid a repeat of this mistake.

Encouragingly, the Treasury has started to change strategy by denominating some loans in the local currencies of our lenders. This simple but powerful step relieves us from the endless chase for dollars to settle debts. We have already seen the Samurai loan issued in Japanese Yen and discussions to repay Chinese debt in Yuan. These are not just symbolic moves, they are practical steps to spread risks away from the dollar and stabilize our economy.

Currency swaps and local currency arrangements present clear benefits. They shield us from sharp fluctuations in the dollar exchange rate which often push repayment costs higher than the original loans. They also strengthen bilateral trade since countries are more willing to trade when payments can be made in their own currency. Imagine buying medicine from India directly in Rupees instead of scrambling for dollars. The cost of imports would fall, shortages would reduce, and the savings could be invested back into our economy. The same logic applies to imports from Japan, China, and other major partners. Paying in their currencies builds trust, secures supply, and encourages them to invest more in our markets.

Diversifying currencies also spreads risk. Relying too heavily on the dollar is like putting all your eggs in one basket. Whenever the dollar strengthens globally, our debt burden swells, food prices climb, and businesses struggle. By transacting in a basket of currencies, Kenya can balance shocks and ensure smoother economic performance. This is the pathway that countries like China, India, and even Russia have pursued with success, and it is time we fully embrace it.

All in all, Kenya must redefine its economic future by aligning debt and trade with currency realities. We cannot continue living at the mercy of the dollar. A well negotiated system of currency swaps and diversified borrowing will not only reduce pressure on our economy but also give us back control over our destiny. In this new pathway, survival means spreading risk, protecting our people, and ensuring that future generations inherit a stronger, more resilient nation.

Shattered dreams: Poetic justice for Kenya and Tanzania in CHAN quarters

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BY PHILLIP ORWA

The mood was electric, atmosphere expectant and the expectation was real. The weather was good and the dream looked nearer to actualization.

The drums of war kept of ringing and the unity was defying the storm that had threatened the country.

This was the situation in Kenya and Tanzania, members of the East Africa community, who in their dreams had prophesied of a final meeting in Nairobi.

Ahead of the quarter finals, the two countries had engaged in a banter and social media war with Tanzania accusing Kenyans of buying all the tickets to deny the local supporters entry to the stadium against their opponent, then Atlas lion of Morocco.

On the other wing, the Tanzania had prayed that Kenya should lose in the quarters and even celebrated when news of Kenya’s lose to Madagascar in penalty shoot out filtered in the stadium.

But as fate would have it, the poetic justice landed and the two great teams were left licking their own wounds while the underdogs proceeded to semis.

But for the players, it was an opportunity to market themselves to the new potential employers and again, financially , they gained from their respective governments in terms of rewards and CAF  awards.

It was awake up call to Kenya and Tanzania that the spirit of East Africa unity is bigger than individual gain and had they supported one another, it would have been a different story altogether

Kenya and Tanzania’s dream to qualify for Semi-finals and maybe set-up a Final challenge of the Total Energies African Nations Championship (CHAN) came to an abrupt halt after Madagascar and Morocco defeated the neighboring East African Countries during the quarter finals. 

Kenya bowed out after succumbing to 4-3 post match penalties after laboring for a one-all draw in the regular time, while Tanzania lost by a solitary goal that was scored by Oussama Lamliuoi in the 65th minute.

Had The Harambee Stars, qualified for the Semi-finals, it would have been their first continental semi-final in 38 years.

The Kenyan Stars however, will have to be congratulated for staging a spirited fight that lasted 120 minutes after being forced into a 1-1 draw, Alphonce Omija had placed the stars in the lead with only three minutes to the breather after completing a Boniface Muchiri set-piece.

A few minutes later, Ryan Ogam doubled the lead, but VAR cancelled the goal, in the 66th minute of the second half, Madagascar scored through a sport kick after Lewis Bandi handball handed inside the area, Fenohasina Razafimaro took the spot kick sending Byrne Omondi the wrong way to make matters equal.

Rakotondraibe converted the decisive penalty after Alphonce Omija missed the Harambee Stars, Kenya had initially matched their opponents, with Siraj Mohammed and Daniel Sakari scoring confidently. Sylvester Owino also found the net.

Mike Kibwage’s effort was saved by Madagascar keeper Michel Ramandimbisoa, and when Omija sent his attempt wide, Madagascar team was sent into frenzy.

The rivalry between Kenya and Madagascar during the game could be dubbed as a repeat of what transpired during the African Union Elections that pitted Kenya’s Former Prime Minister against Madagascar’s H. E Richard Randriamandrato, and SADC urged its member countries to vote for the Madagascar candidate, even thought Djibouti candidate Mahmoud Ali Youssouf eventually won.

The Harambee Stars had arrived unbeaten from the group stage, topping a pool that included former champions Morocco and DR Congo, conceding only twice in five matches.

Coach Benni McCarthy, who had urged his players to remain calm before the quarter-final, will reflect on a campaign that delivered pride, defensive resilience, and hope for the future.

The banter between Kenya and Tanzania had seen Kenyan fans “allegedly buy all tickets” for the Tanzania and Morocco game, but in a surprising move, the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium was filled nearly to the brim.

Tanzania had months ago banned businesses by Kenyans and there has been an online tag of way between the two countries.

The Copy and Paste of ‘Baba while you were away’ mantra by Wamunyoro that flopped on his return

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By Anderson Ojwang

The excitement and anticipation of the return of Wamunyoro from his three weeks visits of US that was hyped to resemble that of “Baba while you were away” mantra crumbled on his face.

The country , specifically the Nairobian had hoped for a public holiday on his return as was witnessed during the return of National Super Alliance (NASA) presidential candidate Raila Odinga in  May 2014 and the recent Genz actioned public holidays.

But for Wamunyoro, the impeached deputy president Rigathi Gachagua, it was a theatre of confusion, disorganization and disorientation that left him gasping for air as his security details fought their way to his waiting car.

The chaos at the airport was symbolic of the current situation at the united opposition alliance, that is fighting to survive, months after its inception.

The chest thumbing DCP officials and members had hyped the return and alleged of a plot by the government and a section of Nairobi politicians of scheming to disrupt the ceremony.

Unlike Baba’s return, that granted Kenyans a public holiday and witnessed a well organized reception but turned into a battle field between the police and the supporters. It was a heroic moment.

Baba eventually and victorious snaked his way into the CBD despite hail of teargas and gunshots.  

It was a sea of humanity as thousands of his supporters and NASA leaders flocked the airport and CBD to  welcome him back home. The support system was  organic, massive and breath taking.

For Wamunyoro, who is trying to fit into the huge shoes of Raila as the official opposition leader, found himself as a pale shadow of Baba, untested, disorganized, unprepared, and lack the never die  organic support system.

 The play

The setting, theme, location are the same but the main characters and times are different. The script is written in the USA with the action location destined for Nairobi, Kenya.

The theme, return, subtitled “While You Were Away”. The first main character is Baba in May 2014 on his return to Kenya from US.

The phrase was aimed at welcoming and updating Raila on the failings of Jubilee administration following his three-month sojourn in the United States.

The second main character, is Wamunyoro on his return to Kenya from the US tour in 2025. Wamunyoro, who was expected to tour US for two months was forced to cut short his visit to just only three weeks.

The play within a play

As the play rolls out, Gachagua finds himself at the crossroad of the geopolitics and his significance in the world order. Unlike Raila, rated and ranked highly, Gachagua is still neophyte and yet to cut his teeth beyond. He is a new entrant and find himself thrown out of the kings palace.

He wrote on hos x handle “I regret being unable to visit the remaining states on my itinerary as I need to return home to join our party in preparing for the upcoming by-elections in various parts of the country,” he said.

Gachagua apologized to Kenyans he was unable to meet, noting that the engagements had been rescheduled to early next year. He added that he would take a few days to rest before heading back and would make his travel itinerary public.

“I thank the Kenyans in the States for the love, warmth, and hospitality they accorded us. I salute the organizers and officials of the DCP chapters for superb planning, organization, and meticulous coordination. You are simply the best,” he said.

But enters a new character  in president William Ruto who announces of his September visit. This came hot in the heels after he met US Ambassador Carla Benin.

“Next month in the United States, I will meet with the Recording Academy, organizers of the Grammy Awards, to fast-track plans for establishing world-class studios here in Kenya and to set in motion the journey towards eventually hosting an African edition of the Grammy Awards in Nairobi.” Ruto said.

The Ambassador  assured Ruto that Kenya remains central in its US-Africa policy.

“Kenya remains central to US-Africa policy and when we do something in Africa, we do it in Kenya first. There is a reason for that because of our shared interests in alignment, governance, rule of law and democracy.

This visit in particular is really exciting because  when we look at Kenya, its leadership  in AI,  agriculture and green energy to California interest in smart agriculture , energy generation, the embassy will continue to lead on that front in encouraging US investments.in the country,” she said.

Ruto  said “ Your coming here  is a great expression of friendship. It is a moment for us, to take  our engagements to a whole  new level. I am very happy that this morning you have engaged with the colleagues from different sectors in our country.

We appreciate that you have chosen Kenya to be your foot print around our continent  and I promise you Infront of these good people here , my colleagues from Kenya that we are ready and willing to partner and to see what we can do together  in a mutually beneficial  engagement between our two countries,” he said.

The Return

Whereas, Raila’s return, his supporters were blocked from gaining entry to the Jomo Kenyatta Airport, and  ugly scenes of running battles between the police and supporters were witnessed.

For Wamunyoro supporters were allowed to gain entry to the facility, where commotion was witnessed at the JKIA as his supporters thronged the premises, chanting his name while awaiting him to pass the checkpoint.

Hundreds of his supporters thronged JKIA to welcome him back but what was meant to be a triumphant return quickly descended into violent chaos.

Despite a heavy police presence surrounding the airport, supporters blocked one of the international arrival gates much to the surprise of arriving tourists overwhelming officers.

Groups of young men and motorbike riders hurled stones at his motorcade, in a chaotic melee that police attempted to disperse with tear gas.

The CBD remained calm and normal while police officers stationed along Mombasa road and Nyayo stadium round about had a holiday, no action was witnessed.

Gachagua wrote on his X handle “Thank you, my great people of Kenya for love.

I am happy to be back home.”

Embu is ready to make history this weekend as it host’s the inaugural leg of the National Sevens Circuit at the Njukiri Showground

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BY PHILLIP ORWA

Local organisers have expressed confidence in their preparations, promising a well-run tournament and a great experience for players and fans alike.

The action comes just days after the Christie Sevens in Nairobi, where KCB Rugby defeated Menengai Oilers 17-5 in the final to clinch their eighth Christie title and their second trophy of the 2025 season, cementing their lead in the overall standings. Kabete Stallions claimed Division Two honors after brushing aside Makueni RFC 22-0, while Mwamba RFC were crowned women’s champions following a 14-5 win over Kenya Harlequins.

KCB who’ve proved their dominace in the 7s will headline Pool A in Embu alongside Daystar Falcons, Mwamba RFC, and hosts Embu RFC. Pool B sees Strathmore Leos drawn with Impala RFC, Kabras Sugar, and Division Two champions Kabete Stallions.

Menengai Oilers who KCB thumped for a third time in a raw lead Pool C, joined by Nakuru RFC, Nondescripts, and Mean Machine, who make their return to Division One rugby. Pool D features Kenya Harlequin, Catholic Monks, MMUST, and invitational side Zetech Oaks.
The National Sevens Circuit will continue after Embu with the Kabeberi Sevens and Dala Sevens, where the overall winner of the 2025 series will be crowned.

The tournament has received a significant lift after Kenya Breweries Limited, through its flagship brand Tusker, announced a sponsorship package worth Sh3 million. From this, Embu Rugby Football Club will receive Sh1.5 million in cash to support logistics, while the remainder will go into enhancing the fan experience with activations at the Tusker Village and the official afterparty.

Deputy Tournament Director of the Embu Sevens, Norman Mutai thanked Tusker for stepping in with sponsorship noting that it was a huge boost for the hosts.

Mutai said “This support from Tusker is a big boost for us as hosts. It allows us to put together a well-organized tournament, welcome teams and fans from across the country, and showcase Embu as a proud rugby destination.

“Preparations are on track, and we are confident of delivering two days of the ultimate rugby experiences at Njukiri Showground.”

Speaking on the sponsorship, Keza Mpyisi, Tusker Sports Brand Manager, said: “We are proud to extend our support to the Embu Sevens, which is a new stop in the National Sevens Circuit.

Tusker’s partnership is about celebrating rugby culture across the country and giving fans an unforgettable experience both on and off the pitch. After the success of Driftwood, Prinsloo and Christie, we are excited to now head to Embu and continue this journey.”

How projects worth Ksh.495,613,717 went to waste after Stalling and Abandoned in 2023/24 FY

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By Habil Onyango

Many new legislators are abandoning various projects initiated by their predecessors in favor of new ones.

This trend has resulted in stalled projects that cost millions of shillings, depriving the public of the benefits that completed projects would have provided.

Consequently, the value for money invested in these initiatives has not been realized.

The abandoned projects underscore issues such as inefficiencies, financial mismanagement, waste of public resources, and lack of value for money.

According to the audit report for the fiscal year 2023/24, which ended on June 1, 2024, projects worth Kshs. 495,613,717 were reported as stalled and abandoned across 29 National Government Constituencies Development Funds (NGCDF).

Nancy Gathungu, the Auditor General, reported that the Matayos NGCDF had stalled projects valued at Kshs. 85,217,471, whereas the Bomachoge Borabu NGCDF had stalled primary school projects worth Kshs. 73,079,495.

In Ainabkoi NGCDF, eight projects with disbursements of Kshs. 15,532,783 had stalled. Meanwhile, in Awendo NGCDF, Kshs. 13,500,000 was disbursed for the construction of eight classrooms; however, the project remains incomplete and has stalled.

In Bobasi, the construction of a laboratory, library, and classrooms at St. Mathews Chitago Secondary School, which began in the 2018/2019 financial year at a cost of Kshs. 3,700,000, has taken too long to complete.

In Bomachoge Borabu, the construction of classrooms at a cost of Kshs. 73,079,495 has stalled, while Bondo NGCDF had a stalled school project valued at Kshs. 9,000,000.

The contract for constructing an administration block at Bulanda RC Primary School in Butere NGCDF was awarded for Kshs. 3,330,486, with Kshs. 2,300,042 (69 percent) already paid to the contractor.

However, verification of the project revealed that it had stalled since the contractor was absent on-site, with window panes uninstalled, the floor not cemented, and both the interior and exterior walls not plastered as specified in the bill of quantities.

In Funyula NGCDF, Kshs. 4,000,000 was allocated for the completion of a dormitory accommodating 256 students, commencing on September 2, 2024, with an unspecified contract timeline.

“At the time of the audit, only partial excavation of the substructure was completed, and the contractor was again absent on-site,” reads the report.

Additionally, Kshs. 7,000,000 was paid for constructing a storey tuition block containing eight classrooms, which was supposed to include walling, roofing, door and window fittings, electrical work, and plastering of the first floor.

The construction commenced on March 17, 2023, with a planned completion date of September 20, 2024. However, at the time of the audit, the contractor had not completed the electrical and plastering work and was not on site, leading to Ksh. 11,000,000 in stalled projects.

In Emgwen NGCDF, the construction of classrooms and an administration block worth Ksh. 5,850,000 was stalled while in Garsen NGCDF, various projects amounting to Ksh. 17,657,173 were incomplete.

Moreover, in Ikolomani NGCDF, the construction of a storied building and eight classrooms at Bushiangala Primary School had been abandoned, costing Ksh. 5,000,000.

Another notable stalled project includes the construction of a modern library at Ogande Girls High School in Homa Bay Town NGCDF, which had an estimated cost of Ksh. 40,000,000.

In Kapseret NGCDF, four projects valued at Ksh. 10,606,835 were stalled, including the construction of a police station at Kesses, which cost Ksh. 3,512,176.

In the year under review, Ksh. 10,000,000 was disbursed in Kabuchai NGCDF for the construction of a storied classroom block at Busakala Primary School, with a total contract sum of Ksh. 18,950,990. However, the project stalled at the first-floor slab, and the contractor was not on site.

Furthermore, the construction of a science laboratory costing Ksh. 3,890,000 by Kigumo NGCDF has also stalled. In Konoin NGCDF, Ksh. 2,000,000 was allocated for the construction of a dining hall at Chebangang Secondary School, but the project stalled, leading to the termination of the contract.

The site for the construction of the Mutitu Assistant County Commissioner’s Office Block, funded by the Kitui East NGCDF at Ksh. 5,000,000, was abandoned.

Only the substructure and roofing works were completed, while flooring, plastering, installation of windows and doors, ceiling, plumbing, and electrical works had not been carried out.

Despite this, the contractor was paid the full contract sum of Ksh. 5,000,000. The project was not branded to indicate it was funded by Kitui NGCDF, as noted by the Auditor General.

In Luanda NGCDF, various classroom construction projects were stalled at different stages of completion, amounting to Ksh. 54,748,224. Similarly, in Lurambi NGCDF, various primary school projects worth Ksh. 52,025,264 were also stalled.

In Malava NGCDF, a contract for constructing an administration block at Imbiakalo Police Station was awarded on October 13, 2023, for Ksh. 15,999,250, of which Ksh. 9,000,000 (56 percent) had already been paid to the contractor. “The contractor was not on site, over one year after the contract period lapsed,” the report stated.

In Manyatta NGCDF, the delivery, installation, and commissioning of ICT equipment revealed that the Ksh. 949,123 ICT hub was not functional. Additionally, there were numerous stalled projects noted in Matayos NGCDF, including the completion of an administration block at St. Stephen’s Lwanya Girls Secondary School. The contractor had already been paid the full contract sum of Ksh. 38,284,255 (100 percent), while the project was estimated to be only 60 percent complete.

“The project had stalled, and the contractor was not on site,” the Auditor General remarked.

The completion of a multipurpose hall at St. Mary’s Mundika High School also faced delays, with the contractor having received the entire contract sum of Ksh. 46,833,216 (100 percent), while the project was only estimated to be 61 percent complete. Both projects, amounting to Ksh. 85,217,471, had stalled.

In Mukurwe-Ini NGCDF, Kshs 2,000,000 was transferred to Kangurwe Police Post for the construction of a police station.

“A visit to the site in November 2024 revealed that the project was incomplete, with construction stalled and the contractor absent,” reads the report.

“Although the Project Management Committee explained that the project stalled due to inadequate funding, management did not provide a work plan to demonstrate how the Fund intends to complete the project and achieve value for money for the constituents,” stated Gathungu.

In Mumias East NGCDF, a review of procurement records indicated that the PMC entered into a contract for the construction of four classrooms and an administration block at Kenya Water Institute for Ksh. 6,998,590 on April 28, 2022, with a completion period of three months.

However, verification on December 19, 2024, showed that the project was incomplete and the contractor was not on site, with the contract indicating a scope of works that included the completion of the administration block — an indication of unapproved variation.

Nandi Hills NGCDF had four stalled projects, as per the project implementation status report provided, totaling Ksh. 21,900,000.

In Narok South NGCDF, the construction of storied classrooms, to which a total of Ksh. 9,000,000 had been disbursed over two years (2021/2022 and 2022/2023) in equal amounts of Ksh. 4,500,000 each year, had stalled at the ground floor level, with no further funds being allocated to move the project forward.

PS calls for renewed investment and tech transfer to sustain gains in UHC

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BY PHILLIP ORWA

Public Health and Professional Standards PS Mary Muthoni has called for renewed solidarity, co-investment, and tech transfer to sustain gains and drive UHC.

Speaking during the Pre-#TICAD9 round table with Japanese Parliamenterians, where she’s representing the Ministry of Health, Muthoni, said that Kenya had made significant gains in the fight against infectious diseases, with over 1.36 million people living with HIV now on lifesaving treatment—representing 98% of those diagnosed. Mother-to-child transmission has been nearly halved, dropping from 14% to 7.2% in the last five years.

The Principal Secretary added that Since 2018, malaria prevalence has reduced by 30%, while related deaths fell by 40% between 2022 and 2023, supported by the distribution of over 45 million insecticide-treated nets.

“Our progress against HIV, TB, and malaria demonstrates what is possible when global solidarity meets national leadership. We must renew our commitment through co-investment, technology transfer, and sustained partnerships. We need concerted efforts for a future free from infectious diseases and Universal Health Coverage.

Tuberculosis incidence has also declined by more than a third since 2015, with treatment success reaching 89%.” Said Muthoni.

PS Muthoni credited Kenya’s progress to strong domestic leadership and enduring global partnerships, particularly with Japan through TICAD, JICA, the Global Fund, and other bilateral collaborations.

President William Ruto revealed that Kenya had signed various development cooperation documents at the ongoing Tokyo International Conference on African Development, TICAD, in Yokohama City, Japan.

The President in a communication stated “Kenya has signed various Development Corporation Documents, they include the Statement of Intent on the Samurai Bond, a financial instrument issued by foreign entities in the Japanese capital markets, signed between our National Treasury and Nippon Export and Investment Insurance.

Our plan to access financing in the Japanese capital markets is a leap forward in our innovative policy of diversifying resource mobilisation for priority national development and transformation.

We also signed a Letter of Intent and Concept Note to Accelerate Access to Cefiderocol, a crucial antibiotic approved for effective treatment of bacterial pneumonia, in Kenya.”

The President noted that the agreements also provides for the supply of the medicine with support from the Global Antibiotic Research and Development Foundation.

Ruto said that the agreement to supply medicine with support from Global Antibiotic Research Development Foundations was signed between Kenya’s Ministry of Health and Shionogi and Co. Ltd of Japan, which specializes in pharmaceutical research, development and manufacturing.

Also signed is a Memorandum of Cooperation on Human Resource Development between the Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institution and the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

A manager with the golden hand : Victor Mbaka, the man behind Babu Owino success story, joins the race for Kasipul constituency

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By Hope Barbra

Behind the scenes of the success story of Embakasi East MP Babu Owino and trophy laden trolley in his management of national government constituency development funds and bursary awards, is his constituency manager.

In him, Babu has scaled the height and received a clean bill of health from the Auditor  General over the implementation of projects in his constituency.

Similarly, through his astute management prowess and skills, Babu has been credited as the best performing MP by various opinion polls for three years running.

In Babu’s safe glove, is the son of a former chief, Mr. Victor Mbaka, the soft spoken, workaholic, performer and non-controversial NG-CDF  manager of Embakasi East and now also Makadara constituency.

Mbaka an alumnus of the university of Nairobi, has cut his teeth as one of the best performing CDF managers in the country and this explains why Makadara MP George Aladwa sought for his service to help propel his constituency up the ladder.

Despite Members of Parliament being  key figures in fostering the development agenda of their constituency through the utilization of the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NGCDF) allocated from the national kitty, the CDF managers are actually the drivers of the agenda and actual implementation.

In a political landscape often marred by scandals and the misuse of public resources, Babu has emerged as a beacon of integrity and effective leadership.

The Auditor General’s report highlighted clean MPs in the last report in exemplary NG-CDF utilization  to include  Babu Owino of Embakasi East, Mavoko MP Patrick Makau,  Ndindi Nyoro of Kiharu, and Gathoni Wamuchomba of Githunguri.

In early 2025, the MP was ranked by InfoTrack, a research firm, as the best performing MP in Kenya.

Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino during protests in the Nairobi CBD on Wednesday, June 25, 2025.

In early 2025, the MP was ranked by InfoTrack, a research firm, as the best performing MP in Kenya.

Info Track revealed that he had a 72 per cent approval rating based on a survey involved at least 40,000 respondents across all 47 counties.

He has also since been recognized by Politrack Africa as the best MP in Kenya in their 2025 Star Leaders Awards.

In the wings of all the achievements, Mbaka has been pivotal having in Babu’s story and inherited  the management skills from his father, retired senior chief  Selemis Ouma Mbaka of Konuonga location.

Ouma served the people and the government  with dedication as a member of various school boards, celebrated motivation speaker  and former chairperson of all chiefs in the constituency.

The youthful, Mbaka, who has expressed interest in the vacant Kasipul parliamentary seat in the November by-election wants to replace the slain MP Charles Ongondo Were.

Kasipul was reputed during the tenure of the first MP Joseph Oyugi Magwanga as one of the top performing constituencies. Magwanga was  viewed by the constituents as one of the best performing members of parliament.

But in 2017 when Magwanga opted to contest for Homabay gubernatorial seat, the late Were was elected the MP and won a second term on ODM ticket.

During Were’s tenure, it was marked by acts of political thuggeries and violence that left several killed and maimed and this made the constituency to be flagged by government as security hotspot.

Mbaka who will fight with other aspirants for the ODM ticket currently enjoys the support of the professionals who see him as sober, mature and professional capable of turning the fortunes of the constituency.

Through his experience in the management of NG-CDF, he intends to replicate the same in Kasipul and to raise the bar through people driven service and accountability.

“I am a people servant. I understand what it takes to make a constituency functional in terms of service delivery and projects implementation.

I am capable of making Kasipul to be among the top performers and I have the template. What I only seek, is the mandate of the people.

I am a peace lover and interested in economic empowerment of our people, access to education and support to the needy and vulnerable in the society.

We can make Kasipul great and that is my commitment,” he said.

The constituency has five wards namely West Kasipul, Central, south, East and West Kamagak.

ODM  has already issued notice to members to verify their membership ahead of the by-election and the campaigns have picked up in the area.

Mombasa Blogger Claims Life in Danger After Being Dropped from Witness Protection

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person shadows with Frosted glass - violations concept background

By Correspondent

A Mombasa-based blogger, who recently made headlines after being gang-raped by senior officials from the Mombasa County Government, claims his life is in grave danger after being abruptly removed from the Witness Protection Agency (WPA) programme.

The victim, who has been living in hiding for the last nine months, has narrated how he was secretly ferried from Embu County by WPA officers, only to be handed over to his father upon arrival in Mombasa.

According to him, this sudden move was a breach of earlier assurances that he would be relocated to Kilifi County, where the agency had initially promised to transfer him due to safety concerns.

“I was shocked when instead of being taken to Kilifi as promised, they simply abandoned me in Mombasa. They told my father to take me home, and from that moment, I knew I was no longer safe,” he told reporters.

The blogger says that ever since his removal from protective custody, his family has been receiving threatening phone calls from unknown individuals demanding to know his whereabouts. He believes these threats are linked to powerful individuals who want him to abandon his case.

His ordeal dates back to September 12, when he was allegedly gang-raped by three men believed to have been working closely with senior county officials.

During the investigations, Mombasa governor Abdulswamad Nassir was among the high-profile individuals in Mombasa who recorded statements.

Governor Nassir told journalists after he left the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) offices that no one is above the law and he is ready to present his mother if she is summoned; all he wants is for the blogger to get justice.

He urged the DCI detectives to hasten the probe and get to the bottom of the case. He encouraged people with information relating to the case to avail it to the authorities. The Governor said he is ready to present his mother if she is summoned.

“I have said it before and I have done it at my earliest possible time. I went to the DCI, and I have recorded my statement. The best we can all do is for anyone who has any form of information to just go. It is the only way that this young man can get justice,” he stated.

“There is no normal human being who will say that whatever happened is the right thing. Of course, I condemned it but at the same time, we need to be able now to talk about justice for this young man,” he added.

The Governor, who had been adversely mentioned in the case, said he had provided the DCI with the information that may assist in the ongoing investigations.

He condemned the heinous act that was meted out to the 25-year-old blogger. “These are things that we don’t want to see not just in Mombasa but anywhere in this country. These are things that shouldn’t be seen,” he said.

While in protective custody in Embu, the blogger also survived what he describes as an attempt on his life after he suddenly fell ill.

“I became violently sick after having dinner with agency officials at a local hotel in Embu. Doctors later confirmed it was food poisoning. To date, I do not know whether it was accidental or deliberate, but it left me shaken,” he recounts.

Adding to his fears, the blogger revealed that unknown individuals, suspected to be working at the behest of the county administration, have been visiting his father’s home in Mombasa. On several occasions, they allegedly tried to persuade his family to convince him to withdraw the case.

“They approached my father directly and even offered money if I agreed to drop the matter. It is clear they are desperate to silence me,” he claimed.

The blogger is a key prosecution witness in a high-profile case set to be heard on September 25.

Five suspects — Abdul Hassan, Hajji Babu, Esther Muthoni alias Totoos, Violet Adera alias Vyao, and Ali Mohammed alias Nyanya — are facing multiple charges, including gang rape, abduction with intent to confine, conspiracy to commit a felony, and assault causing grievous harm.

The case has already attracted national attention due to the seriousness of the allegations and the involvement of county officials. Human rights activists have called on the government to reinstate the blogger into the Witness Protection Programme, warning that his testimony could be compromised if his security is not guaranteed.

The blogger insists he will not be intimidated and that he is determined to testify despite the mounting pressure.

“I know they want to silence me, but I will speak the truth in court. My only fear is that they might succeed in harming me before then,” he said.

The offences are alleged to have been committed in Mombasa last year, and the outcome of the case is expected to set a significant precedent on how cases involving influential government officials are handled.

Former President Uhuru dealt blow as Tuju resigns; What next in the chess game?

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By Anderson Ojwang

One of the few Kenya’s soberest and ideology-driven politicians, former Cabinet Minister Raphael Tuju, has resigned from former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Jubilee Party of Kenya.

Tuju’s departure from Uhuru’s party deals it a major blow, leaving it to be more of a Mt Kenya party and could herald its death.

It is currently grappling with the idea of supporting former Interior Minister Fred Matiang’i as its presidential candidate. Matiang’i is yet to become even a party member and is yet to indicate which vehicle he will use in the 2027 election.

The ruling party, once vibrant and controlling both the Houses in the last Parliament and Senate and having an expansive centre, is currently limping and faces competition from the new kid on the block, DCP, that is neutralising its grip in the region.

Tuju, a no-nonsense politician, braved strong community and party hostility to remain in President Mwai Kibaki’s administration after a fallout between then LDP leader Raila Odinga and the President.

Raila has remained the de facto leader of the community, and any opposite views expressed by politicians usually translate into a loss in elections.

Tuju, despite initiating several projects in Rarieda, fell to the sword for sticking with Kibaki in the 2007 general election, but he was later appointed to the Cabinet.

Tuju remained on the government side and became a key ally and advisor to President Uhuru Kenyatta and was appointed to the Cabinet and later became the Jubilee Party Secretary-General.

Tuju is viewed as one of the community’s top leaders and likened to the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, the late Tom Mboya, the late Argwings Kodhek, the late Achieng Oneko, among others, for his soberness and ideology-driven politics. Tuju, a journalist-turned-businessman and politician, is a polite but shrewd operator and is never driven by cheap fame and publicity.

Currently, Tuju has been one of the key pillars in Raila’s political dispensation, opting to play from the background and has maintained honesty in his political dealings and advisory role.

Tuju draws acceptability across the board in the community and nationally due to his non-controversial and issues-based politics.

In his resignation letter to Uhuru, he wrote “May I take this opportunity to thank you most sincerely for having given me the opportunity to serve as the Jubilee Secretary-General from 2016 to 2022.

It was an exceptionally bold political step on your part to have entrusted this sensitive position to me as a person coming from the Luo tribe, while the anchor of the party was essentially the Kikuyu and Kalenjin tribes. Naively, many of us in the Jubilee expedition had thought and dreamed that we could build a National Party and a country that could make a transition from politics defined by ethnic mobilisation and polarisation. It was a bold attempt to confront the Kenyan political narrative of ‘Us against Them’. I and you shared some coincidences in the Kenyan political arena.

You suffered a defeat for being judged as not being a Kikuyu enough that led to your losing an election when you contested the Gatundu South Constituency under KANU.
I too lost the elections for the seat of MP for Rarieda for not being Luo enough and daring to be associated with PNU of President Kibaki.
After your handshake with Raila in 2018, it precipitated hostility between the Kalenjin wing and the Kikuyu wing of the Jubilee Party. To your credit, you shared with me and President Ruto the rationale for the handshake as being a way of building bridges and stabilising the country after the hostility of Raila swearing as the ‘People’s President’.

We were all awake to the fact that Kenya, then with all the prevailing hostilities, poverty, and the youth population bulge, had all the ingredients of becoming a failed state. It is needless to add that out of the top ten failed states globally, at least three of them are members of the East African Community.

The motivation for the handshake was to secure the peace in our beloved Kenya. Unfortunately, that handshake brought a lot of hostility between me and President Ruto despite several initiatives to bridge the gaps that the three of us are aware of before my almost fatal accident in 2020.

What I am satisfied about is that I remained loyal to you as the President, the Party Leader, and as a member of the Cabinet.
In the ever-evolving ironies of Kenyan politics, after the Gen-Z riots of 2024, President Ruto, now bearing the full responsibility of the weight of carrying the state, had to make compromises and do exactly what you had done in 2018; A handshake with Raila Odinga.

While I have been out of the country for the last 6 weeks, a lot seems to have happened with the Jubilee Party, and you have my best wishes.

This letter is to thank you and to pay tribute to our political association that dates back to the time when I worked with you under President Kibaki to create the PNU outfit.

We dared to dream and to be naive in the Kenyan political arena that we could go beyond tribe. I still hold dear onto those values of our shared humanity, beyond the easy tribal mobilisation of ‘Us against Them’. And I think it is good to be naive like our Gen Zs.
I believe that a time is coming when the Kenyans will be able to come together to confront the challenges of the youth population bulge that we talked about so many times.

The time will soon come when more Kenyans will understand that our enemy is lack of employment and dignified income and not the other tribe.

I hope that more Kenyans will be able to understand that even in the midst of so much misery and poverty, the potential of this country is up there. A situation analysis that makes the UN still transfer more of its operations out of New York to Nairobi cannot happen if there was no such potential.

I still look forward to working with you in future. However, at the present time, I see no more value that I can add to the Jubilee Party. I therefore tender my resignation.”

The question is, with Tuju’s resignation, what next in the game of chess?

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