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Who are the vultures of ODM Cups and Tents?

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By Anderson Ojwang

Who are the vultures in the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) cups and tents planning for the late former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga’s anniversary?

This is the question that may form part of the conversation as we head to the first Raila Odinga anniversary after the ODM Central Committee on Thursday released a programme and events for the occasion.

And Raila’s younger sister and Kisumu Women Representative Ruth Odinga sparked a storm with her post on social media platforms, pointing fingers at vultures in the party planning for the anniversary.

Odinga wrote, “We are heading for 15th October and already vultures of ODM cups and tents are now planning – Raila was an enigma! Wacheni Upuzi!”

Cups and Tents

During the Linda Ground rallies, Ruth Odinga complained of money flowing into ODM that was used to hire tents and hotels, a new concept in the party.

“Where is the money used to fly choppers, procure big tents, and mobilize and brand crowds in ODM colours coming from, yet the same money cannot be sent to the ODM Party bank accounts? That only means one thing: control.

So they must be the ones controlling the show, where they decide who is ‘invited’ to the Linda Ground tents and what they say once they get there. Anything outside the script attracts immediate booing, as was the case with Suba North MP Hon. Millie Odhiambo at the Ciala Resort in Kisumu,” she said then.

Press statement

On Thursday, the ODM Central Committee, after its meeting, released a statement detailing the programme and events to mark Raila’s anniversary.

The ODM leadership christened the month of October as Mwezi wa Baba (Baba’s Month) commemoration.

The statement read in parts, “Ladies and Gentlemen, October marks one year since the demise of the Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga, the founder of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party. It was a tearful moment; we were all heartbroken. God plucked the best flower from our midst.

The ODM party has dedicated the entire month of October to his memory,”

The party said, in recognition of Raila’s tireless contribution to the country’s democracy and his Pan-Africanism, the party was dedicating the month of October as MWEZI WA BABA with the following activities:

“2nd October 2026 – Candle lighting; Kenyans will be requested to light candles wherever they are, either in organised groups or individually, in remembrance of BABA. This candle-lighting will take place at 6:00 pm across the country,” read the statement.

On 9th October 2026, the statement said the party will hold a major Memorial rally in Kakamega Town, which will bring together supporters from all the Counties of the Western Kenya region, namely Kakamega, Vihiga, Busia, Bungoma and Trans Nzoia.

“From 10th to 15th of October 2026: family-led activities;

This will culminate in the main memorial service at Kang’o Ka Jaramogi in Bondo,” read the statement.

Itinerary

On 17th October 2026 – a memorial rally in Garissa Town.

This will bring together members and supporters from Northern Kenya counties of Garissa, Wajir, Mandera, Isiolo and Marsabit.

On 18th–19th of October 2026 – Memorial activities in the Coastal region.

On 21st October 2026 – Kajiado County memorial activities, 23rd to 25th October 2026 – Turkana County memorial activities and 31st of October 2026 – MWEZI WA BABA memorial rally in Nairobi County.

“We urge all our supporters to rededicate their commitment to BABA’S ideals,” read the statement.

The irony

After the announcement of Raila’s death by President William Ruto, only then Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna went to India to bring the body back to the country.

Unfortunately, while Raila’s body was still airborne, the party’s top organs had met and chosen Dr Oburu Oginga as the interim party leader and he was only made aware of his new role at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, where he had gone to receive the body of his younger brother.

Oburu expressed shock but accepted the appointment to become the acting party leader and was recently ratified by the Special Delegates Conference as the party leader.

Oburu in UK for routine medical check-up

Oburu recently travelled to the United Kingdom for a routine medical check-up, days after he was briefly admitted to Nairobi Hospital.

“I am currently in the UK to undergo a thorough, routine medical check-up. This visit follows the direct advice of both my doctors and the party leadership to ensure a comprehensive evaluation of my health, while allowing me a dedicated period of rest and rejuvenation,” Oburu said on Thursday.

Oginga said the temporary step back from party activities was also a strategic opportunity for ODM to demonstrate its institutional strength.

He said Deputy Party Leaders Paul Simba Arati and Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir, together with the National Central Committee and the party secretariat, would oversee the party’s day-to-day operations during his absence.

“As I attend to these personal health routine checks, that naturally come with advancing years, I view taking this step back as a deliberate, strategic moment for our movement,” he said, adding that he had “absolute faith” in the collective leadership of the party to steer the movement effectively.

On September 1, Oginga dismissed reports that he had been seriously ill or readmitted to Nairobi Hospital, saying he had only briefly visited the facility for a general check-up with his doctors before returning home.

“I had only briefly visited the hospital for a general check-up with my doctors and have since returned home,” Oginga said at the time.

He further sought to reassure Kenyans that there was no cause for alarm, saying he would inform the public should he develop any serious health complications.

“Being sick is a normal human experience and should not alarm anyone. The day I am truly sick, I will inform you all, for I am a very transparent person,” he said.

Laini Saba residents want the Senate to intervene over stalled resettlement by Kenya Railways

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By Reporter

Residents and traders displaced by Kenya Railways projects in Laini Saba, Kibra Constituency, want the Senate to intervene over stalled resettlement programmes, incomplete housing units and inadequate trading facilities.

The residents appeared before the Senate Standing Committee on Roads, Transportation and Housing and said hundreds of affected families and traders were yet to receive the houses and business premises promised under the Resettlement Action Plan (RAP).

Figures presented to the Committee painted a stark picture of the resettlement challenges.

Of the 1,432 residential occupants enumerated in the Laini Saba zone, only 256 had received houses, while 583 of the 833 enumerated business occupants had received stalls.

The petitioners, led by Victor Wamae and Woodley/Kenyatta Golf Course MCA Davidson DNG Ngibuini, told the Committee that some beneficiaries who had received housing units were living in deplorable conditions due to a lack of basic amenities, including water, sewerage, lighting, fencing and functional sanitation facilities.

“They can’t use the toilets because there is no sewer connection. There is no water and so they cannot use the toilets,” said Mr Ngibuini.

The petitioners said the remaining beneficiaries continued to face uncertainty, with some living in temporary or decanting sites and others operating businesses in unsafe and unsuitable locations.

Mr Wamae said some of the houses already handed over to beneficiaries were incomplete, particularly due to the absence of water connections.

*“What happened in the past was that Resettlement Action Plan, as you can see in the document, and Chair, the Kenya Railways houses were built, and the Kenya Railways houses were handed over to the affected persons.

But there’s a serious issue where, if you look at those houses as they are today, the houses are incomplete,” he said.

The petitioners raised concern over the stalled Phase Two construction at Jamhuri, behind the Nairobi City County Inspectorate Trading Centre, saying the project had reportedly run out of funding.

They said traders who had won ballots for houses had not received their units, forcing some to remain at a decanting site in Magade.

Marsabit Senator Mohamed Chute, who chaired the session, pressed the petitioners to provide accurate figures on the number of people affected by the resettlement programme.

Senator Chute warned the petitioners against presenting contradictory figures, saying accurate information was necessary for the Committee to establish the extent of the problem and determine appropriate interventions.

Nominated Senator Peris Tobiko, meanwhile, expressed concern over the safety of affected families, particularly amid forecasts of heavy rainfall.

“Where are you living right now? Considering, of course, the predictions of the meteorological people that there’s going to be rain and a lot of rain. Where are you living? Are you in safe places?” she asked.

Senator Tobiko said the safety of affected families should be prioritised as the Committee considers interventions to address the housing crisis.

She also sought clarification on whether beneficiaries were paying for the houses or whether the units were being provided as part of the resettlement programme.

Nominated Senator Hamida Kibwana sought clarification on the legal basis upon which residents and traders had occupied the railway land.

“The bottom line is the Kenya Railways wanted to get back their land, full stop,” she said, while emphasising the need to distinguish between the legal and humanitarian dimensions of the dispute.

Senator Kibwana asked the petitioners to provide documentation relating to their occupation, including allotment letters, titles and evidence of rent payments.

She also requested a list of ballot holders to enable the Committee to establish those who had been allocated houses and those who had been left out.

She questioned whether traders had been paying rent to the City Council or another authority and called for documentary evidence to establish the status of the affected occupants.

The petitioners asked the Committee to facilitate the release of RAP documents, including enumeration records and details of financial allocations.

They also called for investigations into alleged procurement and contractor irregularities, completion and upgrading of market stalls, compensation for livelihood disruptions and clarification of the legal status of the affected land.

According to the petitioners, some of the stalls constructed under the resettlement programme were too small and poorly located, forcing traders to operate near railway tracks and roads.

They proposed that portions of the railway reserve be considered for organised trading activities during railway rehabilitation, subject to proper planning and legal safeguards.

The residents further raised concerns over flooding, inadequate drainage and the absence of ramps for persons with disabilities.

They also expressed concern over plans to remove a police post serving Woodley and Isabel wards, saying the facility was important to the security of the local community.

The Committee directed the petitioners to submit a comprehensive list of beneficiaries who had received or missed out on houses and stalls.

The petitioners were also directed to provide copies of lease agreements and other relevant records to enable the Committee to compare their information with Kenya Railways’ records.

The comparison is expected to help establish the actual number of beneficiaries, identify those who have been left out and determine any discrepancies in the implementation of the Resettlement Action Plan.

Senator Cheragei questions private revenue collection and sharing arrangement at KICC

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By Reporter

Questions have emerged over the collection and management of revenue by the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), particularly the revenue generated from parking, Tower Viewing services, events and other revenue-generating activities.

Nandi Senator Samson Cheragei is questioning the legal basis and transparency of a private revenue-collection and revenue-sharing arrangement entered into by KICC.

He said the arrangement raises concerns regarding compliance with Government requirements on the collection, processing and accountability of public revenue.

Sen. Cheragei now wants the Standing Committee on Finance and Budget to establish the legal basis, scope and approvals underpinning the arrangement.

He wants the committee to also look into the procurement process undertaken by KICC and the contractual and supporting documentation governing the engagement.

The Senator has further questioned why revenue collected by KICC under the arrangement was not processed through the eCitizen platform.

He also questioned whether the National Treasury authorised the operation of any parallel revenue-collection system.

The Senator wants the Committee to disclose the identity of the private entity involved and the terms of its engagement with KICC.

He also wants the Committee to disclose the payment platforms and accounts through which revenue was collected and remitted, as well as the safeguards in place to prevent under-declaration, unauthorised retention, diversion or loss of public funds.

Sen. Cheragei is also seeking a comprehensive account of revenue collected by KICC over the last five financial years from parking, Tower Viewing services, events and other revenue streams, disaggregated by source, and a comparison of revenue collected under the private arrangement with amounts processed through the eCitizen platform.

Further, the Senator wants the Committee to establish whether any discrepancies, revenue losses, delayed remittances or other financial irregularities have occurred since the commencement of the arrangement, the amounts involved and the corrective measures undertaken.

He has also called for information on Government entities that continue to collect revenue outside the eCitizen platform, and the measures being undertaken by the National Treasury to ensure that all public revenue is collected, accounted for and reconciled through approved Government revenue-collection systems.

Ruto’s headache over Mombasa gubernatorial seat as Shabbal vows to run

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By Anderson Ojwang

The battle for the Mombasa gubernatorial race is turning out to be a headache and a nightmare for President William Ruto as he tries to align his troops to face off against the opposition in the 2027 General Election.

The move by President Ruto to prevail on gubernatorial aspirant Suleman Shabbal not to run did not materialise after the latter declined and vowed to contest for the gubernatorial seat.

**“You remember I told you I told Shabbal, and you will excuse me to say this. I told you that I know you want to run for governor in Mombasa and I told you I am against it.

I say this with tremendous respect to my brother Shabbal, honestly, and I told him, my friend, please, you know we need you in a different space,”** Ruto said.

But Shabbal, in his response in a social media post, said nothing will stop him from contesting for the Mombasa gubernatorial seat.

“President William Ruto is our president and respect him. He is my friend, but Your Excellency, for your advice I kindly request that you forgive me. Let’s meet at the ballot on 10th August 2027,” he said.

President Ruto said Shabbal was better off in a different space and not politics owing to his success as an entrepreneur.

“Forgive me, my brother Shabbal, you are a great entrepreneur and it is not easy to come across people like you who have the acumen, capacity, courage and connection to do the kind of investments going on in this country,” he said.

He said not all successful people can be politicians and urged Shabbal to reconsider his stand.

**“We have so many people who can be politicians and I am one of them and it is not that politicians are lesser human beings.

I am saying, in our country, there is this thing that every successful person thinks there is something in politics,”** he said.

Ruto said the country cannot be grown by politicians alone and that there was need for many more people, serious industrialists, investors, Kenyans who can grow this country.

“You can make a huge contribution to Kenya. Look at what you are doing with this. It will get 10,000 people working. It is better than you going to be disturbed by the MCAs, face demos and humiliations,” he said.

But Shabbal maintained that Mombasa was calling and the welfare of the people was paramount.

**“I look at the welfare of Mombasa, which is more important. Let me tell you in no uncertain terms, in 2027, whether they like it or not, no retreat and about-turn.

What previously occurred to be denied a ticket to MCA because they support Shabbal. You can stay with your tickets, I am still in the race. Whether they like it or not, I am in the race,”** he said.

He said only two things will keep him out of the race, which are God and the people of Mombasa.

“Unless two things happen, one, God gives his verdict or the people of Mombasa say no, but Shabbal is in the race until the end. Change must come. Mombasa is calling and it is not calling Shabbal alone but calling all of us to unite and change Mombasa,” he said.

Dynamics

The Mombasa gubernatorial race has been dominated by the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), and the death of former party leader Raila Odinga has left the contest open.

The recent fallout in the party has also undermined the party’s grip in the region as the electorate are moving towards the Linda Mwananchi group, the rebel wing in the party.

Shabbal is one of the candidates to beat in the race, having contested for the seat in 2013 and 2017, while in 2022 he stepped down.

In 2013, he lost to the ODM’s Hassan Joho, garnering 94,905 against the victor’s 132,583 votes.

In 2017, Shabbal lost again, getting 69,515 votes against Joho’s 221,177 votes.

Election Results Summary 2017

Winner: Joho Hassan Ali (ODM) — 221,177 votes (64.89%)

Runner-up: Shahbal Suleiman Said Saleh (Jubilee Party / JP) — 69,515 votes (20.39%)

Third place: Hassan Omar Hassan (Wiper Democratic Movement – Kenya / WDM-K) — 12.85% (approx. 43,800+ votes)

2022 results

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) gubernatorial candidate Abdulswamad Nassir won the Mombasa gubernatorial election after garnering 119,083 votes.

He was followed closely by his main competitor, Hassan Omar of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), who garnered 98,108 votes.

The problem

The broad-based coalition has two aspirants, UDA Secretary-General Omar Hassan and the incumbent Nassir of ODM.

Nyali MP Ali Mohammed has also expressed interest in the seat and, with Shabbal’s declaration, the battle for the race will be interesting.

Already, Omar has declared that there will be no zoning and is ready to face off with Nassir, while the ODM team wants their stronghold zoned to avoid internal competition.

Nurses Back to Work After 43-Day Strike as Governors Seal Return Deal

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By Valentine Omondi

Patients across Kenya can now breathe a sigh of relief as nurses return to public hospitals after 43 days of industrial action that disrupted healthcare services, strained medical workers and threatened to trigger a wider health sector strike.

The Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM) called off the strike on Wednesday, September 9, after reaching a Return-to-Work Formula with the Council of Governors following a day-long closed-door meeting in Nairobi.

KNUNM Secretary-General Seth Panyako announced the end of the strike during a press briefing after the negotiations, directing nurses to resume duty immediately and within 24 hours at the latest.

“By the powers conferred on me by the Constitution of the Kenya National Union of Nurses and the Constitution of Kenya, I hereby declare that the strike that commenced on the 29th of July 2026 is hereby called off,” Panyako said.

The agreement gives the two sides 45 days to conclude negotiations on the implementation of the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), which has remained unresolved for years.

Council of Governors Chairperson Ahmed Abdullahi confirmed the agreement during the briefing, saying the dispute had largely been driven by the failure to implement the 2017 CBA.

“We know nurses have been on strike for 43 days. It was because of the non-implementation of the 2017 CBA. We now have a RTWF,” Abdullahi said.

The Council of Governors also committed to coordinate the development of a model career guideline for nursing personnel within the 45-day period.

CBA row sends nurses into six-week nationwide walkout

The strike began on July 29 after nurses walked away from their stations over the failure to implement the 2017 CBA and other outstanding employment grievances.

The union had also raised concerns over the employment of Universal Health Coverage workers on permanent and pensionable terms, career progression and other terms affecting nurses.

The 2017 CBA itself followed a six-month nurses’ strike almost a decade ago, but key provisions remained unresolved, with the government repeatedly citing financial constraints.

As the latest strike dragged on, nurses maintained that they would not return to work until their grievances were addressed.

The dispute eventually moved beyond negotiations, with hundreds of nurses taking their protests to the Council of Governors’ offices in Nairobi on Tuesday, September 8, a day before the breakthrough.

The demonstration came as governors and other officials were under growing pressure to find a solution to the dispute.

Patients bear brunt as public hospitals struggle without nurses

For 43 days, the absence of nurses disrupted healthcare services in public hospitals across the country.

Some facilities faced shortages of essential nursing services while patients were forced to endure delays, seek treatment in private facilities or travel to other areas where services were available.

The crisis also affected dispensaries and health centres in some counties. The Senate discussed the disruption on Tuesday, with Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei warning of a rise in deaths and accusing the Council of Governors and the Salaries and Remuneration Commission of contributing to what he described as a national crisis.

The prolonged strike also placed enormous pressure on doctors and other healthcare workers who remained on duty.

Doctors were increasingly required to deal with responsibilities normally handled by nurses, creating another layer of pressure within a health system already facing staffing shortages.

Doctors threatened fresh strike as nurses’ absence stretched hospitals

The pressure reached a critical point on Tuesday, September 8, when the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) threatened to join the nurses’ strike.

KMPDU Secretary-General Dr Davji Bhimji Atellah gave the government seven days to resolve the nurses’ grievances, warning that doctors would issue their own strike notice if the dispute remained unresolved.

Atellah said doctors were already overwhelmed by the additional workload created by the nurses’ absence.

“Doctors cannot do the nursing jobs,” he said.

In a post on X, Atellah warned that doctors would not remain silent while the health system deteriorated.

“We will not watch silently as the healthcare system we have dedicated our lives to serving is allowed to deteriorate,” he said.

He added: “When one part of healthcare is compromised, we all suffer. And when we stand together, we protect our patients together.”

The seven-day ultimatum meant the country was potentially facing another health workers’ strike just as the nurses’ industrial action entered its final stages.

The agreement reached on Wednesday has now removed that immediate threat.

Governors offer allowance boost as nurses agree to return

The breakthrough followed an offer by county governments to increase nurses’ allowances.

The Council of Governors offered an increase in the risk allowance to Sh8,000 and an additional Sh5,000 in uniform allowance, translating to a combined Sh13,000 increase.

The Return-to-Work Formula also provides a framework for addressing the outstanding CBA issues within 45 days.

The agreement further provides for the absorption of Universal Health Coverage workers into county employment on permanent and pensionable terms, while the Council of Governors is expected to coordinate the development of career progression guidelines for nurses.

For the Council of Governors, the deal offers an opportunity to restore services in county hospitals after more than six weeks of disruption.

For nurses, however, the 45-day negotiation period will be crucial because the central issues that triggered the strike have not simply disappeared with the return to work.

Nurses return as 45-day countdown begins

The return of nurses is expected to ease pressure on public hospitals, doctors and other healthcare workers while restoring services that had been disrupted for more than six weeks.

Patients who depend on public hospitals will also be watching closely as nurses resume their duties, particularly those who were forced to postpone treatment or seek alternative facilities during the strike.

But Wednesday’s agreement is not the final chapter.

The government, county governments and the nurses’ union now have 45 days to address the outstanding issues under the 2017 CBA and implement the commitments contained in the Return-to-Work Formula.

The success of that process could determine whether the latest deal becomes a lasting solution or another temporary truce in Kenya’s recurring health workers’ labour disputes.

For now, after 43 days away from their stations, the nurses are back, public hospitals are preparing to restore normal services and the threat of a doctors’ strike has been pushed back.

State Agencies owe Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service Shh 500M, Education Committee wants them named

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By Reporter

Failure to remit the Sh1,500 placement fees to the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service has led to a debt of Sh300M and negating service delivery by the institution.

And now the National Assembly Committee on Education wants the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) to disclose the categories of institutions that have defaulted on remitting the Sh1,500 placement fee invoiced to them after placement, which has resulted in an accrued debt of Sh300 million.

The matter came up during a meeting which was chaired by the Committee Chairperson, Mr Julius Melly, to scrutinise the Service’s budget implementation status for the FY 2025/2026.

While appearing before the Committee, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr Agnes Wahome, highlighted failure by institutions to pay the placement fees as a reason they had not met the targeted Sh284 million in placement fee AI-A and had only raised Sh261 million.

“Placement fees are monies invoiced to institutions after we have finished with placement. But some institutions fail to honour their obligations to pay, thus we could not achieve our target. We have about Kshs 300 million that has not been paid by institutions, mainly universities,” she said.

Mrs Eve Obara, the Committee Vice-chairperson, while reacting to the presentation by KUCCPS, asked the measures they have put in place to ensure the recovery of the accrued debts from placement fees.

“Table 3 shows that placement fees underperformed (Kshs. 261.57 million actual vs. Kshs. 284.16 million target) because ‘not all institutions were able to honour their obligations’.

Which categories of institutions (public universities, private colleges, or TVETs) are defaulting on these remittances, and what legal or administrative recourse is KUCCPS taking to recover these debts?” Obara asked.

Dr Wahome said this financial year they have made an agreement and universities signed and agreed to start paying the debt in instalments.

“We charge a one-off minimal fee of Kshs 1,500 for placement and validating the list so that the university fund and HELB can process the Fund to the universities to the students,” she said.

The CEO said it was sad that in certain situations some universities do not remit.

“However, starting this Financial Year, we made an agreement and universities signed and agreed to start paying the debt in instalments,” she said.

KUCCPS also told the Committee that during the Financial Year, the absorption rate was at 89%, amounting to Kshs 710M of the approved budget of Shs 796.5M, which were internally generated.

Budget absorption

Separately, Jomo Kenyatta Foundation (JKF), also appearing before the Committee, said they had 100 per cent budget absorption rate of the funds received from the Exchequer.

The Managing Director, Mr David Mwaniki, was asked how JKF reconciled the position that they had a 100 per cent budget absorption rate while the actual Exchequer disbursement was slashed by 81%, leaving core operations fundamentally underfunded.

National Council for Nomadic Education in Kenya (NACONEK) was the last institution to make their submission before the Committee.

For NACONEK, where they recorded a high overall budget utilisation rate of 96.46%, expending Kshs 5.44 billion out of the revised Kshs 5.64 billion budgets.

International education expo to feature 32 universities

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By Reporter

An education expo featuring 32 universities from across the globe will be held next week to cater for mainly over 50,000 KCSE students who missed local public university applications this year.

According to the Kenya Universities and Colleges Placement Services (KUCCPS), it was recently disclosed that a total of 212,510 out of 268,714 students who attained a mean grade of C+ and above in the 2025 KCSE examinations have so far applied for various courses.

It means nearly a quarter of those who qualified did not have the desire to study locally or were time-barred and could not meet the deadline for applications.

Significantly, some of the courses attracting some students are not offered in the country, especially at a time when Artificial Intelligence training is in top demand.

“This coming Expo at Sankara Hotel in Nairobi is partly an answer to this gap,” says the Imperial Education Consultants Director, Mohammed Karama.

He noted that other than the fact that students and parents are able to meet directly with officials from the universities in person, it will also be free of charge.

“At IEC we link students with over 400 universities across 20 countries and we make sure our people get the very best of their choices,” he said during a dinner for Constructor University expo at a Nairobi hotel.

According to the Constructor University Regional Representative, Terry Muriungi, the university is particularly for Kenyan students because classes are taught in English.

“Many think that for you to study in Germany you have to first learn German. That is not true,” she said whilst addressing guidance and counselling teachers at a Nairobi hotel yesterday.

Present at the function was Castro Tsuma, who bore witness to the fact that studying in Germany was a great experience for him, especially at Constructor, where he is also able to work in between studies.

“The people in Germany are good and very friendly and I get to work when I am not in class, earning some money for my use,” said the former St Mary School student, who is currently pursuing a degree in Information Technology.

Notably, a good number of the universities have scholarships for bright students, easing the financial burden on the parents.

IEC Nairobi Manager Marthad Said Ali told the teachers that the institution not only caters for linkages with international universities but also offers the language and science tests required for visa application.

“Our TVETA accreditation is on the way and we are already offering these crucial courses that enable successful visa applications,” he said.

The institution based in Parklands, Nairobi, today links East African students to the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Germany, UAE, Malaysia, Switzerland, Spain, Mauritius, Turkey and India.

Mr Karama is happy to have initiated the programme after himself experiencing world-class university education in Malaysia with a partial scholarship from Jaffer Foundation in Mombasa.

Recently, IEC has penetrated Southern African countries, including Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique.

The Study Abroad Expo will be held at Sankara Hotel from 10 am to evening on September 19 and will be followed by another on September 22 in Mombasa at Bliss Resort, Nyali.

After Kenya, Diaspora becomes the next port of call for Linda Mwananchi with USA first destination

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By Anderson Ojwang

The organic growth of Linda Mwananchi is fast spreading its tentacles not only in the country but also globally, with the group receiving invites from Kenyans in the diaspora.

After a series of successful rallies in Kenya, the political momentum is not about to fade out, but the intensity is growing, with the United States of America becoming the next port of call for the Linda Mwananchi group.

The accidental movement birthed from a political fallout in the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) over the pre-election coalition arrangement between President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) with ODM and the sacking of the party Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna is on the move.

This weekend, Linda Mwananchi will hold its first rally in Nairobi that would mark a milestone in its quest for not only the city gubernatorial seat but also the presidency.

The leadership of Linda Mwananchi—Sifuna, Siaya Governor James Orengo and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino—have been engaging delegations and ambassadors in new political realignments in the country.

Port of call

USA has always remained an important determinant in Kenya’s political dispensation, and leading political leaders have often visited the country to engage with Kenyans in the diaspora, fundraise and address major gatherings.

And now Linda Mwananchi finds itself in the rank and file of the parties and leaders trooping to the USA.

Currently, former Deputy President and party leader of the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), Rigathi Gachagua, is in the USA for a 50-day visit, a second one in two years.

President Ruto is also expected to visit the USA later this month to attend the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.

Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka visited the country in February 2026. Kalonzo attended the 74th National Prayer Breakfast on February 5th, 2026.

Invite

Sifuna and his colleagues are expected to visit the United States of America to woo the Kenyan diaspora community to back their political aspirations and fundraise for his presidential quest.

Linda Mwananchi’s US fundraising director, Paul Lwali, has made a request to Washington authorities to help facilitate the group’s two-day tour to the country on an undisclosed date.

According to a report published by The Africa Intelligence on September 7, 2026, Lwali submitted to the US Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) in mid-August about the intended tour.

Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka confirmed the planned visit, saying the movement was extending its tentacles beyond the country’s boundaries.

“Yes, it is true that we have planned a series of diaspora tours, including the US. Kenyans abroad are eager to hear from us. They want to know our plans for the country and what we will do to bring change,” Onyonka said.

High stakes meetings

Sifuna recently held high-profile meetings with diplomats, including British High Commissioner Matt Baugh and acting US Ambassador Marc Dillard.

Recent diplomatic engagements involve envoys from countries like the UK, the US, France, Germany and Australia.

Implications

Linda Mwananchi is eating into the political profile and space of ODM and acquiring the political roots of former party leader, the late Raila Amolo Odinga.

Raila in his life held a series of high and powerful meetings, gave lectures abroad and fundraised locally and globally.

The current leadership has been relegated to the periphery and hardly gets mentions in the high-profile meetings and invites by the diaspora.

Diaspora factor

Kenyans living in 12 countries were able to vote during the 2022 General Election. A total of 10,444 voters abroad were registered for the 2022 polls, compared to just 4,223 in 2017.

According to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), out-of-country voting is allowed for the presidential election only.

Kenyan voters outside the country initially could only vote from 12 countries, chosen based on the number of Kenyans who live there. The countries are Burundi, Canada, Germany, Qatar, Rwanda, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Uganda, the UK and the US.

In April, it was reported that at least 16 countries will be added to Kenya’s diaspora voter registration programme as the IEBC moves to expand participation ahead of the 2027 General Election.

The expansion targets countries with significant Kenyan populations and is guided by population size, feasibility and cost considerations. The 16 countries include Saudi Arabia, Botswana, Oman, Australia, Sweden, Switzerland (Bern), the Netherlands, Ghana, Italy, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Nigeria, Ireland, Türkiye, Ethiopia, China (Guangzhou) and Mozambique.

The IEBC also plans to roll out mobile registration centres to widen access in high-density diaspora locations, particularly in South Africa, Canada and the United States, as well as other cities with large Kenyan communities.

The Commission said mobile centres will be deployed in selected diaspora hubs in South Africa, Canada and the USA to enhance accessibility and participation.

Currently, it is former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua who is on a tour of the US and has continued his engagements with Kenyans living there.

Battle over the vacant parliamentary commission seat, with Western and Nyanza

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Western Insight Newsroom
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By Reporter

The battle for the vacant seat for the Parliamentary Service Commission has brought tension within the Orange Democratic Movement right in the middle.

The competition and battle for the seat pits ODM MPs from the Luhya community revolving around Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya, who have demanded that the post be retained in the region.

On the other hand, a section of MPs from Nyanza are of the opinion that the seat should go to either Siaya or Migori, where two applicants were shortlisted.

In a press statement read by the Luhya parliamentary caucus and attended by CS Oparanya, the caucus demanded that the vacant seat be preserved for the Luhya community after the expiry of the six-year term of Commissioner Rachel Ameso.

“We demand that the vacant seat that was held by Commissioner Rachel Ameso be retained in Western Kenya. This is our position,” Raphael Wanjala read the statement on behalf of the caucus.

In a recent advert, the Parliamentary Service Commission listed the shortlisted candidates and interview dates. The interviews are scheduled for 10th September 2026.

“The Parliamentary Service Commission hereby publishes the names of applicants shortlisted for the position of female non-MP Commissioner of the Parliamentary Service Commission under Article 127(2)(d) of the Constitution, as well as the dates and timings of the respective interviews,” read the advert.

The shortlisted candidates included Amb. Amina Ali Abdalla from Nairobi, CPA Margaret Nyakoboke Ogega from Kisii, Betty Mbonne Nysge from Trans Nzoia, Denitah Ghati from Migori, Diana Nadzua Mwacharo from Taita Taveta, Dr Brenda Sara Khanani from Busia, Fatuma Ibrahim Ali from Wajir, Mary Mwende Muthoka from Machakos, Prof Jacqueline A Oduol from Siaya, Rachael Wanjiku Kihara from Nakuru, Stellah Chepkemboi Ruttoh from Nandi and Sunjeev Kaur Birdi from Nairobi.

Western and Nyanza both have two candidates, with the political leaders from the two regions trying to undo one another.

The battle over the seat could further cause disintegration in the party and tension within the ranks and the file.

Already, intense lobbying has been going on over the vacant seat, with some of the broad-based candidates shortlisted.

JOOTRH becomes one of the five hospitals selected as Centres of Excellence for Advanced HIV Care

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Western Insight Newsroom
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By Sandra Blessing

The fortunes of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) are on an upward trend, turning the institution into a medical hub not only in Western Kenya but nationally.

JOOTRH became one of five health facilities in the country selected to serve as Centres of Excellence for Advanced HIV Disease (AHD).

The selection was a move aimed at strengthening specialised care for patients with severe or advanced HIV disease.

The AHD Centre of Excellence model seeks to improve the management of patients at increased risk of life-threatening opportunistic infections and other complications associated with advanced HIV disease.

JOOTRH has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening AHD services and ensuring patients receive the intended comprehensive package of care.

The hospital’s progress was reviewed during a routine follow-up assessment conducted by the National AIDS and STI Control Programme (NASCOP) in collaboration with the Nyanza Western Regional HIV Technical Working Group.

The assessment provided an opportunity to evaluate progress made since multidisciplinary teams at JOOTRH—including physicians, nurses, laboratory and pharmacy teams—received specialised training in the management of advanced HIV disease.

The teams assessed services across key areas, including the medical and paediatric wards, pharmacy, laboratory and the Comprehensive Care Clinic (CCC). Particular attention was given to the management of opportunistic infections such as cryptococcal meningitis, availability of essential commodities, laboratory capacity, patient follow-up and referral systems.

Leading the NASCOP team, Technical Advisor Dr Lazarus Momanyi said the assessment was an opportunity to review the hospital’s progress and identify areas requiring further strengthening.

JOOTRH manages critically ill patients with advanced HIV disease, including those suffering from cryptococcal meningitis and other opportunistic infections.

The hospital has also strengthened systems for ensuring availability of essential medicines, laboratory services, referrals and follow-up of patients.

JOOTRH Head of Internal Medicine Dr Eve Koile said the hospital has significantly strengthened its capacity to manage advanced HIV disease.

She attributed the progress to improved access to treatment and continued professional development among healthcare workers, which she said has contributed to improved patient care.

Dr Koile said, “JOOTRH has also leveraged its electronic medical records system to strengthen access to patient data for clinical decision-making, service planning and research.”

JOOTRH CEO Dr Joshua Clinton Okise welcomed continued collaboration with NASCOP and other partners, saying training, research, data-driven decision-making and strategic partnerships remain central to the hospital’s mandate as a teaching and referral institution.

Dr Okise also called for greater emphasis on HIV prevention alongside sustained access to condoms and accurate, reliable HIV information.

He called for strengthening referral networks to ensure patients can access appropriate care closer to their communities, while patients requiring specialised or complex treatment are referred to JOOTRH in a timely manner.

The hospital’s Comprehensive Care Clinic (CCC), one of the pioneer HIV clinics in the country, continues to play a significant role in HIV testing, treatment and care.

Since October 2021, the clinic has conducted 78,456 HIV tests and successfully linked 1,443 newly diagnosed individuals to care.

The clinic currently reports a 96 per cent viral suppression rate among clients actively receiving Antiretroviral Therapy (ART), reflecting strong outcomes in HIV treatment and management.

Currently, the CCC supports 6,799 people on ART, comprising 2,375 men, 4,424 women and 150 children aged 0–14 years.

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