Court Upholds Noordin Haji Appointment as NIS Boss
The Kenyan High Court dismissed a petition challenging the appointment of Noordin Haji as Director‑General of the National Intelligence Service, ruling that President William Ruto’s nomination complied with the Constitution and the National Intelligence Service Act. The court found no breach in the vetting, parliamentary approval, or the fact that Haji was still serving as Director of Public Prosecutions. It emphasized presidential discretion in the selection and rejected unproven integrity allegations. Consequently, Haji’s appointment, made in June 2023, remains in force.
Senegal Lawmakers Approve New, Harsher Anti-LGBT Bill
Senegal's parliament approved a new anti‑LGBT bill, raising the maximum prison term for same‑sex acts from five to ten years and increasing fines to 10 million CFA francs. The legislation also criminalizes any promotion, financing, or support of homosexuality, bisexuality, transsexuality,...
How AI Is Rewriting Schools’ Drama Scripts
AI tools are increasingly being used by scriptwriters in Kenya's National Drama and Film Festival, prompting accusations of cheating and sparking a debate over artistic authenticity. Organisers lack formal AI guidelines but are considering teacher‑training workshops to help educators harness...
EACC Wants Individuals with Integrity Violations Blocked From 2027 Poll
The Ethics and Anti‑Corruption Commission (EACC) is urging the Kenyan National Assembly to amend the Constitution and the Leadership and Integrity Act so that politicians convicted of graft or other integrity violations are barred from the 2027 General Election. Under...
If the Media Is a Watchdog, Who Is Watching the Newsroom?
Kenyan media outlets are largely without formal gender policies, jeopardizing their watchdog function and accountability on gender equality. A gender policy would institutionalise balanced recruitment, equitable pay, safe workplaces, and inclusive reporting standards. Recent workshops at Aga Khan University highlighted...
Blogger Sniper’s Murder: Court Eases Bond Terms for Five Suspects
The Kenyan High Court in Kiambu has modified bond conditions for five suspects in the murder of Meru blogger Daniel Muthiani, known as Sniper. Instead of reporting biweekly to the DCI headquarters in Nairobi, the accused now report to the...
Ruto: Funds From Kenya Pipeline IPO Will Be Used to Expand JKIA
Kenya raised Sh106.3 billion by selling a 65 percent stake in Kenya Pipeline Company, creating a sizable pool of capital for infrastructure. President William Ruto announced that between Sh15 billion and Sh20 billion from the proceeds will seed the expansion of Jomo Kenyatta International...
Ruto Assents Bill that Cushions Retired Judges with Enhanced Benefits
President William Ruto signed the Judges’ Retirement Benefits Bill, creating an inflation‑adjusted pension scheme for retired superior‑court judges. The law caps annual pension increments at five percent and introduces a contributory fund where judges pay 7.5 % of salary and the...
Ganze Lawmaker Kazungu Dumps PAA for Ruto Party
Kenneth Kazungu, the Pamoja African Alliance (PAA) secretary general and Ganze MP, defected to President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) during a Kilifi event attended by senior government allies. The move reflects President Ruto’s push to consolidate Kenya Kwanza...
Kenya Airways Starts Repatriation Flights Amid Middle East Crisis
Kenya Airways announced two repatriation flights on March 4‑5, 2026, to transport Kenyan and United Arab Emirates citizens between Nairobi and Dubai. The flights are classified as emergency repatriations, not regular services, after Dubai International Airport approved the necessary slots. The...
What Are Biometric IDs? What Are the Risks?
Across Africa, governments are rolling out biometric digital ID systems to streamline access to voting, healthcare, education and social protection. A new report by the African Digital Rights Network, based on ten country case studies, finds millions excluded due to...
Technology and Power: Why Africa’s Tech Boom Must Prioritise Peace
Africa’s rapidly expanding digital ecosystem is being hailed as a catalyst for growth, yet its future hinges on whether it can be harnessed for peace. Young, connected Africans are already building AI‑driven early‑warning tools and civic platforms that can defuse...
Curb High, Deadly Cost of Early Election Campaigns
Kenya’s political landscape is plagued by perpetual election campaigning, with parties launching rallies for the 2027 poll as early as January 2026—about 1.5 years before the vote. The High Court ruled that any campaign activity outside the official 30‑60‑day window...
Sifuna: I'm Open to Alliance with United Opposition
Kenyan Senate leader Edwin Sifuna announced that his Linda Mwananchi Initiative, a breakaway faction from the ODM, is open to joining the United Opposition ahead of the 2027 presidential election. The prospective alliance aims to consolidate anti‑Ruto forces and present...
World Bank Must Demand Accountability
World Bank’s poverty‑reduction mission is compromised by weak oversight in many developing nations, where borrowed funds are often diverted into election‑timed projects and opaque schemes. The article highlights how political opportunism inflates contracts, disguises debt as generosity, and undermines public...
Stop Political Violence
Political violence in Kenya has resurfaced, highlighted by police using teargas and live fire at an ODM rally in Kitengela and a subsequent disruption of a public meeting in Kakamega. Human‑rights organisations warn that women and children suffer disproportionately as...
Middle Class: Kenya’s ‘Beasts of Burden’ Holding the Tax System Together
The middle class is the economy’s beast of burden. They are the last remaining missionaries...
UN Security Council Gravely Concerned by Escalating South Sudan Violence
Clashes are occurring at a scale not seen since 2017...
What New Bill on Infrastructure Fund Says as State Inches Closer to Sh5trn Dream
The government wants to mobilise up to Sh5 trillion by crowding in private capital.
France, Germany Launch Sh7.2 Billion Plan to Digitalise TVET Institutions
France and Germany, through the French Development Agency and Germany's KfW Development Bank, have launched a Sh7.2 billion (€46.85 million) programme to digitalise Kenya’s technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions. The initiative follows a recent Kenya‑EU partnership agreement and aims...