Author: Mercy
Pressure Mounts on Police After 25-Year-Old Man Dies in Malindi Police Cell Pressure is mounting on the National Police Service following the death of a 25-year-old man under unclear circumstances while in custody at Malindi Police Station, in an incident that has reignited concerns over custodial safety and accountability. The deceased, identified as Lucky Odhiambo Okoth, was found dead in a police cell on the morning of Friday, April 17, according to rights groups monitoring the case. Initial reports indicate that the young man was discovered unresponsive, with details surrounding his death raising more questions than answers. Hussein Khalid, Chief…
Diaspora Remittances Hit Ksh58 Billion in March as Inflows Surge 9% Kenyans living and working abroad sent home a record Ksh58.15 billion (USD 450.3 million) in March 2026, marking the highest monthly diaspora remittance inflow recorded this year and underscoring the growing importance of overseas earnings to the country’s economy. According to fresh data released by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), the March inflows represent a 9.1 per cent increase from the Ksh53.31 billion (USD 412.7 million) recorded in February. The surge signals a strong rebound following a relatively modest start to the year, where January inflows stood at…
Sections of Civil Servants Demand Up to 50% Pay Rise, Give SRC 14-Day Deadline A section of civil servants drawn from key constitutional commissions and independent offices has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), demanding negotiations for a sweeping salary review that could see the lowest-paid workers receive up to a 50 per cent pay rise. The workers, represented by the Kenya Independent Commissions Workers Union (KICOWU), are pushing for a structured salary increment that includes a 20 per cent increase for the highest-paid staff and a significantly higher 50 per cent adjustment for the…
Oburu Odinga Dismisses Claims of ODM Suspending Coalition Talks With UDA Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Oburu Odinga has dismissed reports suggesting that his party has suspended coalition talks with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), clarifying that no formal negotiations between the two political formations have begun. Speaking in Kisumu on Friday, April 17, 2026, Oburu termed the claims as misleading and premature, stating that while there exists political goodwill between ODM and UDA, discussions have not reached a stage where they could be halted. “I am in a good relationship with the president, who is the leader of UDA.…
Court Reinstates Bungoma County Officials Fired by Governor Lusaka The Employment and Labour Relations Court has issued interim orders reinstating a group of senior Bungoma County officials who were dismissed by Governor Kenneth Lusaka, marking a significant legal development in an unfolding governance dispute within the county administration. The ruling follows an urgent petition filed by 11 officials, including County Executive Committee (CEC) members and the County Secretary, who challenged their abrupt removal from office. The petition was lodged shortly after Governor Lusaka announced the dissolution of his entire county cabinet, citing the need to enhance efficiency and improve service…
Wetang’ula Pushes for Criminal Sanctions as Governors Defying Parliamentary Summons National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has called for the introduction of criminal sanctions against governors who defy parliamentary summons, intensifying a growing standoff between county governments and oversight institutions. Speaking during a youth empowerment programme in Mabera, Kuria West Constituency in Migori County on Friday, April 17, Wetang’ula warned that continued disregard for parliamentary invitations—particularly those tied to accountability for public funds—could soon attract legal consequences. “As Parliament, we will not compromise on oversight. For whom much is given, much more is expected. You cannot take billions of taxpayers’ money…
Ruto to Hire Artists & Content Creators Into Civil Service, Orders Full Funding for Drama Festivals President William Ruto has unveiled sweeping reforms targeting Kenya’s creative economy and education sector, announcing plans to formally absorb artists and content creators into the civil service while directing full government funding for national drama festivals. The announcement was made at State House, Nairobi, during the National Drama Festival State Concert held on Friday, April 17, marking what officials described as a significant policy shift aimed at mainstreaming the creative industry into national development frameworks. In his address, the Head of State revealed that…
KRA Replaces Nil Tax Returns Filing With ‘PIN With No Obligation’ in Latest Changes The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has announced a significant overhaul of its tax compliance framework, scrapping the long-standing requirement for Nil Returns and introducing a new category known as “PIN With No Obligation” (PWO). The move, unveiled as part of broader efforts to streamline tax administration, is expected to ease the compliance burden for thousands of Kenyans who do not earn taxable income but are required to hold Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) for various services. Under the previous system, individuals without income were still required to…
Nairobi Regional Commander Warns Against ‘Illegal’ Protests in Nairobi CBD Ahead of Planned Demonstrations Nairobi Regional Police Commander Issa Mohamud has issued a stern warning against what he termed as “illegal” protests in the Central Business District (CBD), as tension builds ahead of planned demonstrations scheduled for Tuesday, April 21. Addressing the press on Friday, April 17, Mohamud reiterated that while the Constitution guarantees the right to peaceful assembly, such demonstrations must strictly comply with legal requirements, including prior notification to security agencies. “The right to assemble is constitutional, but it must be exercised within the law. We have not…
TSC Begins Nationwide Mass Teacher Transfers Ahead of Second Term Reopening The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has launched a nationwide teacher transfer exercise ahead of the reopening of schools for the second term, in what officials describe as a strategic intervention to address long-standing staffing imbalances across the country. According to the Commission, the move departs from routine administrative transfers and is instead anchored on a comprehensive, data-driven framework designed to ensure equitable distribution of teachers in all public learning institutions. For years, disparities in teacher allocation have seen urban and easily accessible schools operate with surplus staff, while institutions…