Kenya Minute.
Wednesday, 13 May 2026
Kenya’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Wednesday, 13 May 2026
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Politics

Ruto and Ouattara agree to strengthen diplomatic and economic ties

The News

At the inaugural Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, President William Ruto held bilateral meetings with Côte d'Ivoire's Alassane Ouattara, with both agreeing to strengthen diplomatic and economic ties between the two countries.

Why it matters

Ruto's bilateral agreement with Côte d'Ivoire's president to strengthen ties represents tangible diplomatic progress emerging from the summit with direct economic implications.

2 hours ago · The Standard →

Politics

  1. Ruto and Ouattara agree to strengthen diplomatic and economic ties

    At the inaugural Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, President William Ruto held bilateral meetings with Côte d'Ivoire's Alassane Ouattara, with both agreeing to strengthen diplomatic and economic ties between the two countries.

    2 hours ago · The Standard →

  2. Security heightened for Emurua Dikirr parliamentary by-election today

    Security has been deployed in Emurua Dikirr constituency as residents vote to elect a new Member of Parliament following the death of Johana Ngeno in a helicopter crash on February 28. The Rift Valley Regional Commissioner has warned against unlawfulness and declared that security officers will take decisive action against lawbreakers and those inciting violence.

    2 hours ago · The Standard →

  3. High Court faces tough questions on Gachagua impeachment process

    High Court judges will determine cases challenging former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's impeachment, with critical questions lingering about the whole process, including questions about Gachagua's health status during the Senate impeachment.

    2 hours ago · The Standard →

  4. Gachagua adopts regional, national discourse strategies after impeachment

    Following his ouster as Deputy President in October 2024, Rigathi Gachagua has adopted strategies to solidify regional support and shape national discourse, similar to approaches employed by former ODM leader Raila Odinga.

    2 hours ago · The Standard →

  5. Widow blames State House official for doctor's death

    The wife of the late Dr Job Obwaka, a former director at Nairobi Hospital, has blamed a senior State House official for his death, saying he confided in her that his life was in danger over the Nairobi Hospital control saga.

    2 hours ago · The Standard →

  6. Ruto hosts Macron summit amid sovereignty concerns

    President William Ruto hosted French President Emmanuel Macron for the "Africa Forward" summit in Nairobi, the first French-led event in an English-speaking country, though critics questioned Kenya's "selective solidarity" toward France and whether the warm welcome undermined the country's sovereignty given France's diminished influence in West Africa and the Sahel.

    2 hours ago · The Standard →

Business

  1. Kenya pursues green finance to accelerate sustainable construction

    Kenya Green Building Society hosted a workshop on green building standards and certification as a finance enabler, aiming to boost green building finance and support policy reforms as part of the Green Buildings Decarbonisation Funding Accelerator aligned with Kenya's National Buildings Decarbonisation Roadmap.

    2 hours ago · The Standard →

  2. Westgate Mall increases security and tenants to boost foot traffic

    Westgate Mall in Westlands has enhanced security, expanded recreational activities, and brought in new luxury retail and restaurant tenants since reopening in 2015 following a terrorist attack. The mall's Deputy Marketing Manager said traffic has grown to six figures as they work to attract shoppers and increase consumer confidence.

    2 hours ago · The Standard →

  3. Co-op Bank posts Sh8.41 billion first-quarter profit

    Co-operative Bank of Kenya reported a 21.3 per cent rise in net profit to Sh8.41 billion for the first quarter ending March 31, driven by a 13.6 per cent jump in operating income and contributions from non-banking subsidiaries. The bank was also named one of Africa's Fastest Growing Companies in 2026 by Financial Times.

    2 hours ago · The Standard →

  4. Transport firms adopt digital monitoring to combat fuel theft

    Haulage companies are increasingly using digital fuel monitoring systems to reduce fuel theft, lower operational costs, and improve driver accountability. One fleet operator reduced losses from fuel syphoning and saves between Sh5,000 and Sh7,000 per trip after deploying the technology.

    2 hours ago · The Standard →

Society

  1. PS urges Africa to invest in local health data generation

    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.

    2 hours ago · The Standard →

Sport

  1. Motorsports Kenya Federation officially registered as governing body

    The Motorsports Kenya Federation (MKF) has been registered by the Sports Registrar as Kenya's legitimate motorsport governing body following court victories over rival factions. Many hope the registration will revitalize the Kenya National Rally Championship series, which has declined as drivers have shifted focus to the African Rally Championship due to governance uncertainty.

    2 hours ago · The Standard →

  2. AFC Leopards beat Ulinzi Stars, close gap on Gor Mahia

    AFC Leopards defeated Ulinzi Stars 2-0 in a midweek SportPesa Premier League match, with goals from Kelly Madada and Emmanuel Laangu. The victory reduces Gor Mahia's league-leading advantage to four points with three matches remaining in the 2025-2026 season.

    2 hours ago · The Standard →

  3. Kenyans advance at African Senior Athletics Championships in Accra

    Kenyan athletes including Mercy Chebet and Moses Onyango Wasike progressed through preliminary heats at the African Senior Athletics Championships in Accra, Ghana, with Chebet winning her women's 400m heat in 53.05 seconds and Wasike advancing in the men's 100m.

    2 hours ago · The Standard →

  4. Manchester City beats Crystal Palace 3-0, closes on Arsenal

    Manchester City defeated Crystal Palace 3-0 with goals from Antoine Semenyo, Omar Marmoush, and Savinho to climb two points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal with two games remaining in the title race.

    5 hours ago · Citizen Digital →

World & Region

  1. Tanzania, Kenya youth protests spark intergenerational conflict

    Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan has urged governments to cane youth who protest under "the pretext" of democracy, citing her view that young people neither understand democracy nor practice it with political discipline. The commentary examines the knowledge gap between older and younger generations, noting that both countries' responses to recent youth protests over issues including election integrity, unemployment, and cost of living have involved severe force, resulting in fatalities, injuries, and disappearances.

    2 hours ago · The Standard →

  2. Trump heads to Beijing summit, urges Xi to open China market

    US President Donald Trump departed for Beijing for a high-stakes summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, saying he would press Xi to "open up" China to American firms. The visit brings several top CEOs including Nvidia's Jensen Huang, Tesla's Elon Musk, and Apple's Tim Cook, though political frictions over Taiwan and the Iran war complicate the agenda.

    2 hours ago · The Standard →

  3. French summit visit risks Kenya isolation within Africa

    French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Nairobi, marked by cultural engagement including jogging with Olympic runner Eliud Kipchoge and taking cooking lessons from chef Dennis Ombachi, projects a modern image of France to the continent. The article suggests this diplomatic move may expose Kenya to isolation as France faces growing hostility in parts of Africa.

    2 hours ago · The Standard →

Opinion

  1. France shifts strategy toward Anglophone Africa partnerships

    An opinion piece analyzes France's renewed engagement with Anglophone African countries, evidenced by the Africa Forward Summit held in Nairobi—the first time since 1973 that the summit has been held in an Anglophone country. The piece suggests this represents a significant strategic reorientation by France following its military withdrawal from Francophone Africa amid rising anti-French sentiment.

    2 hours ago · The Standard →

  2. Kenya's fragmented food safety system needs urgent reform

    Kenya has experienced recurring food safety crises, including a recent recall of peanut butter brands with aflatoxin levels far exceeding legal limits. The opinion piece argues that the country's food safety regulation is spread across multiple fragmented laws and agencies, creating a regulatory vacuum that leads to reactive crisis management rather than prevention at the source.

    2 hours ago · The Standard →

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