Kenya's basic education budget for 2026/27 carries a Sh71.77 billion shortfall severe enough to leave more than six million learners without government capitation, according to figures presented by the Principal Secretary of Education to parliament on Wednesday. The shortfall means 3.7 million primary school learners will receive no capitation or be funded at half the required rate, while junior secondary and secondary education also face critical funding gaps.
14 May 2026 · The Standard →
The Kenya Environmental Health and Public Health Practitioners Union (KEHPHPU) has condemned the killing of Pascal Wakafura, a 38-year-old senior Public Health Officer in Bungoma County, who was ambushed at his home on the evening of Monday, May 11, 2026. The union has called for justice and enhanced security for civil servants, describing the incident as an attack on the entire public health workforce.
14 May 2026 · The Standard →
The Huawei DigiTruck Programme is offering digital skills training in Lamu County, with participants like Rose Waithera completing five-week courses despite logistical challenges such as travel between islands.
14 May 2026 · The Standard →
Four students from Magereza Academy in Naivasha were arrested hours after a fire at 8pm razed a section of the school dormitory, leaving goods worth thousands of shillings destroyed and some students with minor injuries. The school has been closed indefinitely pending investigations and repairs.
14 May 2026 · The Standard →
DCI officers arrested seven people across the country in four days and recovered suspected narcotics including cannabis sativa and skunk. In Mombasa, two suspects were arrested and narcotics worth Sh2.19 million were recovered; in Nairobi, a Nigerian national was arrested with narcotics of unknown value.
14 May 2026 · The Standard →
The Science, Research and Innovation Principal Secretary has called on African countries to invest in generating local data for policy and health decisions, noting that the continent relies heavily on foreign-generated evidence. He cited the launch of a Knowledge Hub at the African Population and Health Research Center as a strategic investment to strengthen Africa's capacity for evidence-based solutions.
14 May 2026 · The Standard →
The Bukusu Council of Elders has condemned politicians from Bungoma County for chanting and singing traditional circumcision songs, which are reserved for boys undergoing initiation into manhood. The elders have formally summoned the leaders involved and warned that those who ignore the summons risk being cursed and voted out in 2027.
14 May 2026 · The Standard →
Alumni of Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology have accused the university council of interfering with management and using state agencies to intimidate staff members. They questioned the recruitment of a procurement officer who they allege had been previously convicted in magistrate's court, raising concerns about the university's integrity and recruitment standards.
14 May 2026 · The Standard →
Two men—Bedan Ireri M'Miti and Ireri Ndwiga—have been battling for over three decades over ownership of land parcel Gaturi/Weru/313, a case that has moved through courts in Meru, Embu and Nyeri and is now headed toward the Supreme Court.
14 May 2026 · The Standard →
A wave of burglaries in Migori County has hit several government institutions, including the Migori Deputy Governor's office, a Statistics office, and a school, with property worth millions of shillings stolen. County Commander Edward Imbwaga linked the crimes to ongoing heavy rains, saying police have intensified patrols to curb the rising cases of theft.
14 May 2026 · The Standard →
As the world prepares for No-Tobacco Day, groups are raising concerns about the effectiveness of measures to curb tobacco addiction and harm. A draft law currently before the Senate, the Tobacco Control (Amendment) Bill of 2024, proposes stricter manufacturing approvals, bans on flavoured nicotine, tightened advertising restrictions, and youth protection measures, while also updating regulations to cover new products such as nicotine pouches, vapes, and e-cigarettes.
14 May 2026 · The Standard →
A seven-month pregnant woman in Busia County was struck and killed by a speeding trailer while walking by the roadside. The impact caused the baby to be delivered alive; the infant was rescued by bystanders and transferred to Busia County Referral Hospital for treatment of anaemia-related complications.
14 May 2026 · The Standard →
Kenya has registered more than 2,600 qualifications and built a student database with over 600,000 learner records as part of reforms to align education and training with labour market demands, technological change, and continental integration under the Kenya National Qualifications Framework established in 2014.
14 May 2026 · The Standard →
The Basic Education Principal Secretary has called for immediate and coordinated action to address rising cases of unrest in secondary schools, which have disrupted learning and forced temporary closures. He told school principals and education officials that the second term is traditionally prone to unrest and authorities must proactively identify and address triggers before they escalate.
14 May 2026 · The Standard →
Lewis Kazungu Charo has been sentenced to 20 years in jail for the manslaughter of Faridah Changwa Julius, a 17-year-old Form Two student and mother, in Kilifi County last year. Charo initially pleaded not guilty but later entered a plea bargain agreement and pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter.
14 May 2026 · The Standard →
Caregivers, persons with disabilities, policymakers and government officials gathered in Nairobi for the Third National Disability Dialogue to discuss accessibility, rights and service delivery. The National Council for Persons with Disabilities said the forum would review progress in advancing disability rights over the last 20 years and discuss implementation of the Persons with Disabilities Act of 2025.
14 May 2026 · The Standard →
The Universities' Academic Staff Union has welcomed the appointment of Prof. Ayub Njoroge Gitau as the University of Nairobi's 9th Vice-Chancellor, expressing confidence that his leadership will bring stability and improved relations between management and academic staff after a period of leadership wrangles.
14 May 2026 · The Standard →
Kenya's security approach is evolving as urban expansion and digital transformation increase reliance on technology-driven solutions like CCTV and digital reporting platforms, while cybercrime risks such as financial fraud and identity theft prompt regulators and institutions to strengthen digital security frameworks. Security analysts note that technological tools improve response times and monitoring, but gaps in resource allocation and coordination remain key challenges.
14 May 2026 · The Standard →
The Teachers Service Commission has signaled the end of the Career Progression Guidelines, a 10-year-old policy that has drawn widespread criticism for claims of stagnation, delayed advancement, and unfair career progression in teacher promotions.
14 May 2026 · The Standard →
The widow of Dr Job Obwaka, a former Nairobi Hospital director, has stated that a senior State House official was responsible for his death, claiming her husband confided in her that his life was in danger over the Nairobi Hospital control dispute.
14 May 2026 · The Standard →
Information and Digital Economy Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo told the Senate that Kenya has legal, regulatory and administrative safeguards to protect children from harm online, including subsidiary regulations, industry guidelines, ethical codes, and interventions by the Data Protection Commissioner, Media Council of Kenya, Kenya Film Classification Board and State Department for Children Services. Kabogo said these instruments are aligned to international treaties and UN guidance.
14 May 2026 · The Standard →
Rajendra Ratilal Sanghani has filed an urgent application in the Environment and Land Court seeking temporary injunctions to stop the sale or transfer of a disputed Sh70 million property in Nairobi, named against Thomas Kilonzo Mwanza and Karen Nkatha Rimita.
14 May 2026 · The Standard →
Public hospitals are overwhelmed by referrals and lacking specialised equipment, forcing patients to seek costly private care or face delays. A stroke patient's family paid Sh10,500 for a private CT scan after the public hospital in Kiambu lacked the machine, exemplifying the challenges patients face navigating the referral system.
14 May 2026 · The Standard →
A court has raised concerns over contradictory medical assessments of murder suspect Kennedy Kalombotole's mental condition, with one declaring him unfit to plead and another finding him fit to stand trial. If three psychiatrists from Mathari National Teaching and Referral Hospital cannot reach a conclusive finding, Kalombotole may be referred to South Africa for further psychiatric evaluation.
14 May 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Detectives in Kirinyaga County are investigating a fire at the county government's Education offices that destroyed 119 of 130 ECDE learning tablets stored there, with 11 partially damaged devices recovered. Investigators are also examining the disappearance of 70 tablets from an earlier purchase of 200 devices.
14 May 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Four students at Mageraza Academy in Naivasha, Nakuru County, were arrested after CCTV footage implicated them in setting ablaze a dormitory section on Wednesday morning. The school has been indefinitely closed pending investigations and repairs.
14 May 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Police arrested three suspected gangsters along Kangundo Road in Nairobi after officers spotted suspicious behaviour on a motorcycle; a Retay Falcon pistol and ammunition were recovered from the suspects during the operation.
14 May 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Detectives from the Anti-Narcotics Unit and Mombasa County police arrested two suspects in Kwa Hola Village after recovering narcotics including 902 rolls of bhang, three kilograms of skunk, and 300 grammes of heroin with an estimated street value of Ksh.2.19 million from a house being used as a drug distribution point.
14 May 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Detectives have arrested three suspects linked to a fraud syndicate that siphoned Sh5,226,735 from the Public Trustee Administration Estates Account through forged documents and manipulated account details. Seven individuals are connected to the scheme; the three arrested face charges including conspiracy to defraud, stealing, and forgery, while four suspects remain at large.
14 May 2026 · Capital News →
Salim Ooko and Joseph Odhiambo were fined Sh700,000 each or face two years in jail after being convicted by Winam Law Courts in Kisumu for smuggling 8,750 litres of ethanol, which resulted in a tax loss of Sh10,463,430. The men were arrested in July 2025 after authorities intercepted a lorry transporting 35 barrels of ethanol concealed in wooden crates along the Kisumu–Nairobi Highway.
14 May 2026 · Capital News →
The University of Nairobi Council has appointed Prof. Ayub N. Gitau as its 9th Vice-Chancellor, with Prof. Josiah Omollo Aduda appointed Deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of Finance, Planning and Development. Gitau brings 35 years of experience in higher education and engineering, and has served at UoN for over two decades since joining as a lecturer in 2002.
14 May 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Three suspects were arrested after using forged documents and fraudulent account details to steal more than Ksh.5 million from the Public Trustee Administration under the Office of the Attorney General. Four additional suspects were discovered during the investigation, and the case has been handed to the Director of Public Prosecutions for approval of charges including conspiracy to commit forgery, stealing, and acquisition of proceeds of crime.
14 May 2026 · Citizen Digital →
We Run Nairobi, a free running community started by lawyer and marathoner Emily Chepkor in October 2022 with three friends, has grown into the city's largest running group, drawing hundreds to weekly Saturday sessions. The trend reflects broader growth in cycling, skating, hiking and fitness activities across Kenya in response to rising non-communicable diseases, which account for 41 per cent of all deaths and half of hospital admissions.
14 May 2026 · Capital News →
The University of Nairobi has appointed Prof. Ayub N. Gitau as its 9th Vice-Chancellor and Prof. Josiah Aduda as Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Finance, Planning and Development, with the University Council confirming the appointments as part of efforts to strengthen leadership and institutional competitiveness.
14 May 2026 · Capital News →
A NACADA wastewater analysis across 12 drug hotspot counties found evidence of synthetic drugs including methamphetamine, MDMA, synthetic cathinones, and new psychoactive substances, along with signs of small-scale illegal drug manufacturing operations. NACADA warned that Kenya's drug landscape is evolving and the country must shift its anti-narcotics strategies beyond traditional plant-based drugs.
14 May 2026 · Capital News →
A court has ordered a fresh psychiatric evaluation for murder suspect Kennedy Kalombotole following conflicting medical reports on his mental fitness, with the judge indicating he could be referred to South Africa for further assessment if local specialists fail to reach a conclusive finding. Kalombotole is accused of murdering two patients at Kenyatta National Hospital in separate incidents reported in February and July 2025 and has yet to take plea due to questions about his mental condition.
14 May 2026 · Capital News →
A Kenya Medical Training College accountant has been charged with forging his KCSE results from C- to C+ to gain admission to Kisii University and later secure promotion at KMTC. The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission says he used the falsified academic papers to obtain a Bachelor of Commerce degree and subsequently applied for advancement within the institution.
14 May 2026 · Citizen Digital →
The Basic Education Principal Secretary has convened a meeting with school principals and education officials to discuss interventions for preventing unrest in learning institutions, noting that the second term has historically experienced such cases and urging officers to identify and address warning signs early.
14 May 2026 · Citizen Digital →
NACADA has unveiled Kenya's first comprehensive wastewater-based epidemiology study for drug control, making the country the first in East Africa to adopt this scientific approach. The study analysed 152 wastewater samples from 12 hotspot counties and NACADA is calling for establishment of a National Wastewater Drug Surveillance and Early Warning System to strengthen real-time monitoring of emerging drug trends.
14 May 2026 · Citizen Digital →
The Law Society of Kenya has raised concerns over rising cases of femicide and gender-based violence, citing a surge in intimate partner violence, sexual violence, and related deaths in recent months. The society condemned all acts of gender-based violence and called for immediate action.
14 May 2026 · Citizen Digital →
An unidentified woman was stabbed three times in the chest outside Mode Cafe in Kilimani, Nairobi on Thursday evening. A man dressed in black attacked two women, then turned the knife on himself; both the victim and suspected assailant were reported seriously injured.
14 May 2026 · Capital News →
A Kenya Medical Training College accountant has been charged with altering his KCSE results from C- to C+ to secure admission to Kisii University in 2014, and subsequently using the fraudulent degree to gain promotions at KMTC. The EACC says he unlawfully earned Sh3,965,292.30 in salaries and benefits through employment obtained using forged academic qualifications.
14 May 2026 · Capital News →
The Universities' Academic Staff Union has welcomed the appointment of Prof. Ayub Njoroge Gitau as the 9th Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nairobi and Prof. Josiah Omollo Aduda as Deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of Finance, Planning and Development, urging a consultative leadership approach grounded in consultation, inclusivity, and integrity.
14 May 2026 · Capital News →
Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok has urged education stakeholders to adopt student-centred approaches and identify early triggers of unrest in schools, amid a spike in secondary school disruptions. Officials attributed the unrest to weak communication channels between students and administrations, limited learner involvement in decision-making, harsh disciplinary practices, exam-related pressure, poor learning environments, and drug and substance abuse.
14 May 2026 · Capital News →
Kenya's Public Benefit Organizations Regulations, 2026, approved by Parliament in April 2026, operationalize the Public Benefit Organizations Act, 2013, and officially replace the NGO Coordination Regulations of 1992. NGOs previously registered under the old framework will automatically transition to the new PBO system, though they must submit updated documentation to the Public Benefit Organizations Regulatory Authority.
14 May 2026 · Capital News →
Kenya's Public Benefit Organizations Regulatory Authority has directed all NGOs formerly registered under the repealed NGOs Co-ordination Act of 1990 to update their records under the newly operationalized Public Benefit Organizations Act, 2013 and PBO Regulations, 2026. The transition is automatic and does not require fresh registration, but organizations must submit updated documents including revised constitutions aligned with the PBO Act.
14 May 2026 · Capital News →
Community running clubs across Nairobi, including We Run Nairobi, Urban Swaras Running Club, and Karura Running Club, are attracting growing numbers of young people seeking fitness, social connection, and relief from the pressures of daily life and rising costs of living.
14 May 2026 · Citizen Digital →
A 22-year-old man was sentenced to 20 years in prison for the manslaughter of a 17-year-old girl in Kilifi County. The accused had defiled the victim at age 15, then entered a relationship with her before killing her on June 6, 2025; the charge was reduced from murder following a plea agreement.
14 May 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Kenya has become the first country in East Africa to launch a comprehensive wastewater-based epidemiology study to track drug consumption trends. NACADA unveiled the pioneering report, which analyzed 152 wastewater samples from 12 drug-use hotspot counties using advanced scientific techniques to detect illicit drugs and psychoactive substances in sewage systems.
14 May 2026 · Citizen Digital →