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Rigathi Gachagua sparks a fresh political storm by alleging an election-rigging plot involving Mining and Blue Economy Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho.

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Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has sparked a fresh political storm by alleging an election-rigging plot involving Mining and Blue Economy Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho and officials of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Speaking during public engagements at his Wamunyoro home, Gachagua claimed he has information detailing a scheme to manipulate the 2027 voter register and election management systems.

Gachagua alleged that CS Hassan Joho, alongside IEBC Vice Chairperson Fahima Araphat (Abdallah) and IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon, is behind a scheme to hand a tailor-made election technology tender to a South Korean firm, Miru Systems Company Limited.

The former Deputy President accused the state and electoral commission of intending to use the system to interfere with digital migration of the voter register, suppressing voter numbers in opposition strongholds.

Gachagua urged the youth to register as voters to counter any rigging efforts, adding that if the procurement proceeds, his legal team will challenge it in court.

While CS Hassan Joho and the executive branch have yet to issue a detailed formal statement directly responding to the claims, the IEBC has maintained its independence, stating that its procurement processes for election technology are regulated strictly by law. The commission recently halted key procurement processes following a review request submitted to the Public Procurement Administrative Review Board.

Political observers view the escalating accusations as part of an intensifying strategy by opposition figures to place the electoral commission’s transparency at the center of the political discourse leading up to 2027.

Ksh92 Million Turkana probe raises questions over public funds

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TURKANA – The arrest of three people over alleged irregular dealings involving Ksh92.06 million in Turkana County Government funds has once again placed the management of public resources in the spotlight in a county where 82.7 per cent of the population lives in poverty.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) arrested the three suspects on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, and directed five others to surrender as investigations into alleged conflict of interest, unlawful acquisition of public property, money laundering, and dealing with proceeds of crime entered the prosecution stage. The latest investigation concerns transactions involving two companies that the EACC says received a combined Ksh92.06 million from the Turkana County Government between the 2013/2014 and 2024/2025 financial years.

The three people arrested include a Senior Assistant Community Health Officer in the Turkana County Government, a director of a private company that did business with the county, and an employee of a non-governmental organisation. The identities of the eight people targeted for prosecution had not been publicly disclosed in the EACC-linked report published on August 26.

According to the EACC, one of the companies received Ksh62.05 million from the county government. Investigators established that a Principal Finance Officer and a Principal Accountant participated in processing and validating payments made to the company. The commission also established that one of the officers was a signatory to the company’s account, raising concerns over a possible conflict between the official’s public responsibilities and private interests.

In a separate inquiry, the EACC says another Turkana County employee, who was also a director of a private company, used the firm to secure five county contracts valued at Ksh30.01 million. Investigators further allege that money paid to the two companies was subsequently withdrawn in cash through transactions suspected to have been intended to conceal the movement of the funds and their ultimate beneficiaries. The investigation covers allegations of conflict of interest, unlawful acquisition of public property, money laundering, and dealing with proceeds of crime.

The EACC says that after completing its investigations, it forwarded the inquiry file to the Director of Public Prosecutions. “Upon conclusion of investigations, the Commission forwarded the inquiry file to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who approved the prosecution of eight public officials, companies and company directors,” the commission said.

The three suspects arrested on August 26 are expected to appear before the Anti-Corruption Court in Eldoret on Thursday, August 27, while the other five have been directed to present themselves to the EACC for processing. The commission has also said it will pursue recovery and forfeiture of public funds and assets established to have been acquired through corrupt conduct or other unlawful means. But the latest case carries significance beyond the alleged transactions because of the economic circumstances facing the people of Turkana.

The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) recorded Turkana as the county with the highest overall poverty rate in Kenya in its 2022 poverty estimates. The KNBS placed Turkana’s overall poverty rate at 82.7 per cent, meaning that more than four out of every five residents were living below the national overall poverty line, compared to the national poverty rate of 39.8 per cent.

The KNBS figures further show that approximately 818,000 people in Turkana were living in poverty in 2022, from an estimated county population of 989,000. Turkana’s poverty gap was also the highest nationally at 35.1 per cent, indicating the depth of the shortfall between the consumption of poor people and the poverty line.

The county’s hardcore poverty rate stood at 42.6 per cent, also the highest in the country, while food poverty affected 64.3 percent of residents. The figures were based on the 2022 Kenya Continuous Household Survey, making them older than the current 2026 investigation but still the latest county-level poverty estimates cited by KNBS.

That economic reality gives added weight to questions surrounding the alleged loss or misuse of public resources. The Ksh92.06 million under investigation is not money that exists in isolation from the county’s development challenges; it represents public resources that, if ultimately found to have been unlawfully acquired, could have been available for services and programmes in a county where poverty remains significantly higher than the national average.

The August 2026 investigation also comes after earlier EACC operations involving Turkana County, although those matters are separate from the Ksh92.06 million case. On April 10, 2025, EACC investigators conducted searches at the homes and offices of 10 Turkana County officials as part of an investigation into alleged embezzlement of more than Ksh600 million through suspected fraudulent procurement. The operation involved county executive committee members, chief officers, and other senior county officials.

During the April 10 operation, EACC investigators recovered Ksh6.5 million in cash from the motor vehicle of Michael Eregae, according to an account of the commission’s operation. The commission said the money was suspected to be the proceeds of corruption. The wider investigation concerned alleged fraudulent procurement deals during the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 financial years.

In another separate matter, the EACC pursued recovery proceedings involving Ksh282.4 million linked to alleged procurement fraud involving the Turkana County Government. The commission obtained preservation orders in March 2025 before pursuing restitution of the funds. While these cases are not evidence that the allegations in the separate investigations are proven, nor are they part of the current Ksh92.06 million prosecution, they do illustrate the extent to which Turkana County’s public finances have come under scrutiny by anti-corruption authorities in recent years.

The central issue now moves to the courts, where the allegations against the suspects will have to be tested. The EACC has not established guilt merely by arresting or charging the suspects, and those facing prosecution remain innocent until proven guilty. But for residents of Turkana, the latest investigation raises a question that extends beyond the individuals involved: how effectively are public resources being converted into services and development in a county where poverty remains the highest in Kenya?

The KNBS data show that Turkana contributed about 4.1 per cent of Kenya’s total poor population in 2022, despite having a much smaller share of the country’s population. For communities dealing with limited access to basic services, food insecurity, unemployment, and the challenges associated with living in a vast arid and semi-arid county, allegations involving millions of shillings in public funds inevitably carry a direct public-interest dimension. The Ksh92.06 million investigation therefore places two figures side by side: Ksh92.06 million in public funds under investigation, and an 82.7 percent poverty rate in the county.

The court proceedings scheduled for Thursday, August 27, 2026, are expected to provide further details of the prosecution, including the identities of those charged, the specific counts they face, and the evidence the prosecution intends to rely upon. The EACC, meanwhile, says it will pursue recovery and forfeiture of any public funds or assets ultimately established to have been acquired through corrupt or other unlawful means. For Turkana, the outcome could therefore have implications not only for the individuals and companies facing prosecution, but also for the wider debate over accountability, public spending, and the delivery of services in one of Kenya’s poorest counties.

Turkana County and Partners review SCORE II WASH audit findings

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TURKANA – The Turkana County Government, UNICEF, and key Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) partners have reviewed findings from a comprehensive audit of water systems under the UNICEF-led SCORE II project in Turkana North and Kibish sub-counties. The audit evaluated 512 water sources across six wards, revealing that 228 out of 395 assessed boreholes (58%) are fully functional, directly serving roughly 56% of the local population.

During the review meeting in Lodwar, Director of Preventive and Promotive Services Daniel Esimit praised the ongoing collaboration with WASH partners, noting that the joint effort has successfully helped numerous communities attain Open Defecation Free (ODF) status. Esimit urged partners to expand triggering activities to accelerate positive outcomes, while also calling for the water-system audit to be replicated across all sub-counties to create a live, unified county database to guide future planning.

Beyond routine supply, speakers emphasized the critical link between WASH services and emergency preparedness. Esimit highlighted the need for adequate water and sanitation infrastructure to support designated Ebola preparedness centers, a point reinforced by Director of Water Services Paul Lotum, who noted that operating without proper WASH systems in an emergency is “like fighting a battle with no weapons.”

To address sanitation infrastructure, County Public Health Officer Irine Mana shared that the county and partner Welthungerhilfe are currently constructing twin gender-sensitive sanitation facilities across seven schools and five health facilities, out of a targeted 21 schools and 10 healthcare units. Additionally, 683 health and water personnel have been trained on climate-resilient Community-Led Total Sanitation. To date, 187 SCORE II villages (30% of those triggered) have achieved ODF certification, with 26 more slated for certification by month’s end.

Representing UNICEF, Jackson Mutia reaffirmed support for bi-weekly SCORE II progress meetings to streamline partner coordination and monitor delivery. Mutia explained that the recent audit led to the creation of a live, cloud-based CoDuSYS water sources register covering 512 audited sources and 219 new points. Each water point is now tagged with a unique QR code for real-time tracking, empowering local management where community water committees currently oversee 55% of sources alongside Water Resource Users Associations.

The high-level review brought together key stakeholders including the Water Resource Authority, Ministry of Water Services, Diocese of Lodwar, Welthungerhilfe, Team and Team International, and Plan International to enhance coordination and accelerate SCORE II interventions across Turkana County.

Turkana county signs 5-year MOU with Ambulex Africa to overhaul emergency medical services

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TURKANA — The Turkana County Government has signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding with healthcare provider Ambulex Africa to overhaul emergency medical services, streamline patient referrals, and improve ambulance dispatch across the region.

Signed through the Department of Health, the public-private partnership integrates real-time tracking technology into the county’s emergency response network. The digital platform will map active ambulances, allowing dispatchers to instantly check vehicle availability and route drivers to critical incidents faster.

“Proper referral systems must be put in place to ensure ease in medical records and transfers during medical evacuations,” said Deputy Governor Dr. John Erus during the signing ceremony, emphasizing that the agreement directly targets long-standing transport gaps in the county’s most remote settlements.

Under the contract, Ambulex Africa will deploy medical personnel—including paramedics, nurses, and dedicated emergency drivers—to reinforce local response units. The organization will also deliver Basic and Advanced Life Support training to local healthcare workers to standardize pre-hospital emergency care.

Ambulex Africa Chief Executive Officer Judith Oketch confirmed that Turkana represents the organization’s ninth county partnership in Kenya aimed at extending emergency care directly to households.

The improved response capacity is expected to address critical public health emergencies unique to the region, particularly severe snakebite cases that require immediate medical intervention to prevent disability or death.

“Timely access to emergency care and referral services can play a crucial role in preventing deaths and improving outcomes for patients,” noted Boniface Awuor, Ambulex Partnership and Scaling Lead.

The signing was attended by senior county health officials, including Director of Health Products and Technology Dr. David Moru, Deputy Director for Partnerships Mike Aupe, Emergency Services Coordinator Kephas Achiro, and Medical Services Networking Coordinator Damaris Opilo.

Water shortages and youth jobs top West Pokot’s 2027/2028 priorities

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WEST POKOT — Residents across West Pokot County have identified water infrastructure, employment opportunities, and improved public services as their highest priorities for the upcoming 2027/2028 County Annual Development Plan (C-ADP). The demands emerged from a series of public participation forums conducted across the county’s six sub-counties Pokot Central, Pokot North, Pokot South, Kacheliba, Kipkomo, and West Pokot which ran from August 17 to August 24, 2026.

Access to reliable water emerged as the most critical concern. Community members highlighted that acute shortages severely impact households, livestock, and local agriculture. Speaking at Mtelo Hall in Kapenguria, Agriculture CECM Wilfred Long’uronyang encouraged proactive public engagement, emphasizing that community input is vital to shaping the county’s developmental agenda. Residents like Mark Lokoma of Mnagei Ward urged county officials to focus on high-impact projects, specifically pointing to water, school infrastructure, and teacher deployments as key drivers for long-term growth.

Youth representatives focused heavily on economic inclusion, requesting dedicated investments in skills development and the digital economy. Youth representative Moses Kibet called for the establishment of equipped innovation hubs and empowerment centers to help young people secure jobs in an evolving market. Beyond water and employment, participants urged the local administration to prioritize healthcare facilities, road networks, bridges, and market infrastructure.

County Director of Planning and Budget Isaac Ritakou reassured the public that gathered proposals will feed directly into the draft 2027/2028 C-ADP, as required by Kenya’s constitutional public finance framework. While budgeting constraints remain a factor, residents made it clear that resolving persistent water scarcity and creating youth jobs must anchor the county’s upcoming financial plan.

Marsabit parents warned against keeping children out of school for herding

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MARSABIT – Parents and guardians in Marsabit have been warned against keeping children out of school to herd livestock during the third term. Marsabit Central Children’s Officer Leaky Mukanzi revealed that the department has identified cases where parents are directly denying their children the right to education by forcing them into pastoral duties.

Speaking to journalists in his office, Mukanzi decried instances where children lag behind educationally despite schooling being fundamental to child development. He emphasized that every child has a right to education and warned that parents found blocking their children from attending school will face legal action under laws protecting child rights and welfare.

“Some parents force their children to herd livestock instead of taking them to school. This is against the law protecting the rights and welfare of the child. Every child has a right to education,” Mukanzi stated.

To enforce compliance, a special operation to trace children who have not reported back to school has commenced in the Segel area of Saku Constituency. Mukanzi noted that the crackdown will expand to other regions across Marsabit to ensure all children return to the classroom.

Additionally, the Children’s Officer raised concerns over child abuse, urging community members to report any violations to relevant authorities for prompt action. He highlighted that only a few child abuse cases were reported during the recent school holiday, calling the low numbers a major achievement in safeguarding children’s rights and safety in the county.

Peace returns to West Pokot as leaders call for economic investment and political inclusion

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WEST POKOT – Calm and relative peace has returned to volatile parts of West Pokot County, with residents in areas previously affected by insecurity beginning to enjoy improved stability. The return of calm has allowed communities to resume their daily activities, rebuild livelihoods and interact more freely across neighbouring areas.

Speaking in Kapenguria yesterday, West Pokot Governor Simon Kachapin noted that the improved security provides a vital opportunity for communities to pursue development without the disruption of recurring conflict. However, Kachapin emphasized that sustaining this peace will require concerted efforts from both the national government and local communities, particularly through targeted programmes that address the unique challenges along volatile border areas.

Meanwhile, East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) MP Maina Karobia turned his attention to the region’s political strategy, using the backdrop of the Mt. Kenya region’s influence to challenge local residents not to remain on the periphery of national decision-making.

Recalling the struggle for multiparty democracy in the early 1990s, Karobia warned against any attempts to reverse hard-won political freedoms. He rejected the notion that communities should blindly follow political figures, stating, “They tell us our job is to clap. No. We cannot. We have refused.”

Karobia argued that the region must position itself at the center of the national political mainstream whether aligned with the government or the opposition citing its population and economic contributions as a solid basis for demanding greater influence. “We must be on the mainstream because we are the biggest taxpayers in this country, and we are also the majority,” Karobia said, calling for a strategic shift in how the region approaches national politics.

The developments come as residents report that the ongoing stability has enabled freer movement, revitalized local trade, and fostered cross-border engagement. However, local leaders maintain that lasting security requires going beyond police interventions.

Strategic investments in education, infrastructure, job creation, and economic opportunities especially for the youth will be essential to converting this fragile peace into long-term development while ensuring the region secures a meaningful voice in Kenya’s national affairs.

UNHCR, Turkana county assembly agree on joint action plan to boost refugee protection

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TURKANA – The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Turkana County Assembly have agreed to develop a joint action plan to strengthen cooperation on refugee protection and support for host communities. The agreement was reached during a meeting on August 25, 2026, between Turkana County Assembly Speaker Hon. Charles Lokioto Ewoi and UNHCR Representative to Kenya, Ms. Fatima Mohammed Cole.

The discussions centered on the role of the County Assembly in developing policies, legislation, and programmes that improve the lives of refugees and hosting communities. Under the agreed plan, the two institutions will map out priority areas of collaboration, define responsibilities for each side, set implementation timelines, and establish monitoring mechanisms to track progress. The move is expected to make county laws and policies more responsive to realities in refugee-hosting areas.

Speaker Ewoi emphasized the Assembly’s critical role in ensuring refugee and host community needs are captured in county legislation. “It is important to continue strengthening cooperation between the County Assembly and UNHCR to ensure that policies and laws being developed address the needs of refugees and host communities,” he said. He also stressed the need for Members of the County Assembly to have a deeper understanding of the Shirika Plan, including its objectives, implementation framework, and expected contribution to refugees and host communities in Turkana.

In response, UNHCR committed to sending a dedicated technical team to Turkana to work directly with the Assembly on policy and legislative matters. This team will help identify strategic areas where legislative action can enhance protection for refugees while simultaneously supporting the local host communities.

Highlighting ongoing local engagement, UNHCR Kakuma Sub-Office Head Nundri Sateesh thanked the Assembly for conducting civic education on amendments to its Standing Orders, noting that the initiative increases public understanding of legislative procedures. “Public awareness of the Standing Orders is important because it enables communities to understand parliamentary procedures and how to exercise their right to submit petitions,” Sateesh said, noting this will empower communities to effectively present their complaints and issues to the Assembly.

Ms. Cole welcomed the Assembly’s focus on public awareness and citizen participation, calling access to information and community involvement essential components of effective protection. “Citizen participation and access to information are important in ensuring that programmes affecting refugees and host communities are implemented in a manner that responds to their needs,” she said.

The meeting was attended by key UNHCR officials, including Kakuma Sub-Office Head Nundri Sateesh, alongside representatives from the Department of Refugee Services (DRS). This engagement marks a significant step forward in institutional cooperation regarding policy development, legislative framework, citizen participation, and long-term refugee protection in the region.

Turkana AJS leaders push for greater public awareness to improve access to justice

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TURKANA – Alternative Justice System (AJS) leaders in Turkana County have called for greater public awareness of community-based justice mechanisms to improve access to faster, affordable, and accessible dispute resolution, particularly for residents in remote areas. The remarks were made on 25 August 2026 at the close of a week-long AJS training and familiarization programme attended by panelists from across Turkana County, including Naduat, Lokichar, Kakuma, and Lodwar.

For many residents in Turkana, seeking justice through the formal court system can be difficult and costly, particularly for people living far from court stations and those unable to afford legal representation. Long distances, legal costs, and lengthy litigation can leave vulnerable residents struggling to pursue or resolve disputes. Against this backdrop, AJS leaders said stronger public awareness of alternative justice mechanisms could help bring dispute resolution closer to communities while reducing the time and costs associated with formal litigation.

Samuel Malman, the Turkana County AJS representative, said AJS offers communities an alternative to formal court processes, which can often take considerable time and impose financial burdens on litigants. “AJS provides an alternative way of helping our people resolve their disputes instead of going through court processes, which often take a long time. Through AJS, cases can be resolved much faster and without the costs associated with litigation,” Malman said.

Malman noted that about 78 cases were currently pending at the AJS Centre, but expressed confidence that they could be handled more efficiently as the system becomes fully operational. “We currently have about 78 pending cases. Although that may appear to be a large number, once we begin handling them actively, we expect to clear them within a reasonable time,” he explained. He thanked the Turkana County Government and the Judiciary for supporting the initiative, saying their backing had helped revive AJS services in the county.

However, the leaders identified a lack of public awareness as a major challenge to the effective use of AJS. They urged the county government and development partners to support sustained civic education on AJS, the law, and community-based dispute-resolution mechanisms. Malman emphasized that public education was particularly important among community elders, whose traditional role in resolving disputes can sometimes intersect with formal legal processes, stating, “We need more public education so that our communities can understand the law, their rights, and how AJS works.”

Participants also highlighted that greater access to AJS could benefit women and girls, particularly those facing family disputes and harmful traditional practices. Betty Lorogoy, who attended the training, shared that women and girls could benefit from a justice system that is more accessible at the community level. “This meeting has touched on many issues affecting women and girls. Through AJS, girls facing harmful practices and women dealing with family disputes can get the support they need,” she said.

The AJS leaders are now calling for wider community sensitisation to ensure residents understand where and how to seek help. They maintained that sustained awareness and effective community-based justice mechanisms could reduce delays and costs while bringing dispute resolution closer to the people.

Kenya’s football future hangs in the balance as Kariobangi Sharks fight relegation

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Kenyan football is entering an important phase, with developments both on the domestic scene and at international level set to shape the direction of several teams in the coming months. While Kariobangi Sharks are fighting a legal battle to retain their place in the Kenyan Premier League, the national Under-23 side, the Emerging Stars, is preparing for a demanding qualification campaign for the 2027 U23 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

For Kariobangi Sharks, the immediate focus is on the High Court, which has scheduled September 24, 2026, for the hearing of the club’s appeal against its relegation from the Kenyan Premier League. The Nairobi-based club was relegated after finishing the 2025/26 season in 16th position. However, Sharks have challenged the circumstances surrounding their relegation, particularly the Football Kenya Federation rules that removed the promotion and relegation playoff and introduced the automatic relegation of three teams from the top flight.

The matter had earlier been considered by the Sports Disputes Tribunal, which upheld the FKF rules and consequently left Kariobangi Sharks facing relegation to the National Super League. Unwilling to accept the decision, Sharks moved to the High Court seeking to challenge the SDT ruling. The club subsequently secured stay orders preventing the implementation of the relegation decision while the court process continues.

The stay orders have given the club a temporary lifeline as it waits for the High Court to consider its appeal. The September 24 hearing could therefore have major implications for the club’s immediate future and the composition of Kenya’s top-flight football. Football Kenya Federation must also remain mindful of the existing court orders, as proceeding with the implementation of the relegation decision while the stay orders remain in force could expose FKF officials to contempt of court proceedings. This dispute comes at a time when Kenyan football is already preparing for several major competitions and events, making stability within the domestic league particularly important.

Beyond the courtrooms and the domestic league, Kenya’s attention will also turn to the Emerging Stars and their attempt to qualify for the 2027 U23 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt. The qualification route has now been mapped out, and Kenya faces a difficult three-round journey before it can secure a place at the continental tournament.

The first challenge will come against neighbouring Tanzania. The two sides are scheduled to meet between September 28 and October 6, 2026, in a two-legged first-round tie. Kenya will host the opening leg, meaning the Emerging Stars will have the opportunity to begin the campaign on home soil. However, the final outcome will be determined on aggregate, with only the winner advancing to the second round.

If Kenya eliminates Tanzania, the road will become considerably more difficult. The winner of the Kenya-Tanzania tie will then face Ivory Coast in the second qualifying round, scheduled for November 9 to 17, 2026. That encounter will again be played over two legs, requiring Kenya to maintain its competitiveness across both matches if it hopes to reach the final qualifying stage.

Should the Emerging Stars overcome Ivory Coast, they will have one final obstacle standing between them and qualification for Egypt. The third and final qualifying round is scheduled for March 22 to 30, 2027. At that stage, Kenya would face the winner of the Tunisia versus Benin/Gabon tie. Victory in that final round would officially secure Kenya’s place at the 2027 U23 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

The route is therefore straightforward, although far from easy. Kenya must first eliminate Tanzania, then overcome Ivory Coast, before potentially facing Tunisia, Benin, or Gabon in the decisive final round. For the Emerging Stars, the qualification campaign represents an opportunity for a new generation of Kenyan players to compete at continental level and continue their development towards senior international football. The U23 competition is particularly significant because it provides a platform for young players to gain international experience and demonstrate their ability against some of Africa’s strongest emerging talents.

Kenya’s football calendar will therefore be closely watched over the coming months. For Kariobangi Sharks, September 24 could determine whether their fight against relegation continues or whether their drop to the National Super League becomes final. For the Emerging Stars, the first major test arrives shortly after, with Tanzania standing between Kenya and the second round of the U23 AFCON qualification campaign.

The two stories are unfolding in different arenas, but both highlight the changing landscape of Kenyan football. One is being fought through legal channels over the future of a club, while the other will be decided on the pitch as young Kenyan players attempt to take the country back to the continental stage.