Kenya Minute.
Friday, 3 July 2026
Kenya’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Friday, 3 July 2026
Nairobi—:—London—:—New York—:—Beijing—:—
Home All stories from today — updates as new items land
Politics

Ghost workers siphon billions from Kenya's government payroll

The News

The Standard investigates how cartels have siphoned billions from Kenya's public payroll through ghost workers and manipulation of payroll systems by senior officials, while ordinary public sector workers face stagnant wages and a cost-of-living crisis.

Why it matters

Major investigation into billions siphoned from Kenya's payroll through ghost workers remains a top domestic accountability story.

5 hours ago · The Standard →

Politics

  1. Ghost workers siphon billions from Kenya's government payroll

    The Standard investigates how cartels have siphoned billions from Kenya's public payroll through ghost workers and manipulation of payroll systems by senior officials, while ordinary public sector workers face stagnant wages and a cost-of-living crisis.

    5 hours ago · The Standard →

  2. Gachagua and Murkomen clash over Ol Kalou campaign violence

    A political storm erupted after an incident at Royal Gardens Hotel in Ol Kalou, Nyandarua County, where leaders allied to the Democracy for Citizens Party claimed they were attacked during a delegates' and stakeholders' meeting.

    5 hours ago · The Standard →

  3. Kenyatta University seeks Parliament's help to recover encroached land

    Kenyatta University has petitioned Parliament to help reclaim more than 100 acres of land occupied by squatters and to secure full ownership of its teaching hospital. The university's acting Vice Chancellor told the National Assembly Public Investments Committee that despite previous parliamentary findings affirming the university's ownership, it has been unable to repossess the land, blaming powerful and influential squatters.

    5 hours ago · The Standard →

  4. French Greens file no-confidence motion over heatwave response

    French Green party lawmakers, joined by hard-left and Socialist colleagues, filed a no-confidence motion against the government over its handling of a severe heatwave in late June, to be discussed at the National Assembly on July 6. The motion is unlikely to succeed, as the National Rally has said it will not back it and the Socialists have not supported previous no-confidence motions against Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu.

    7 hours ago · Citizen Digital →

Business

  1. Microsoft and AWS deploy engineers to help clients adopt AI

    Microsoft launched Microsoft Frontier Company, backed by $2.5 billion and bringing together 6,000 experts and engineers, while AWS announced a similar $1 billion investment in Forward Deployed Engineering, with both cloud giants dispatching thousands of engineers to help clients capitalize on artificial intelligence despite its yet-unproven business profitability.

    7 hours ago · Citizen Digital →

Society

  1. Hospitals continue detaining bodies despite court ban

    Eight months after a September 2025 court ruling outlawed detention of bodies over unpaid medical bills as unconstitutional, hospitals continue the practice. A family in Kigumo, Murang'a, has been unable to bury their relative who died in April after Consolata Hospital withheld the body over an unpaid bill, forcing families to seek court orders that take months or years.

    5 hours ago · The Standard →

  2. Moi University plans staff layoffs to resolve financial crisis

    Moi University has unveiled a renewed plan to lay off staff as part of a rationalisation strategy aimed at pulling the institution out of a financial crisis.

    5 hours ago · The Standard →

  3. Utumishi Girls reopens 34 days after dormitory fire kills 16

    Form Four students at Utumishi Girls Academy have returned to school 34 days after 16 students died in a dormitory inferno. Students underwent counselling before being allowed back; a parent noted the costly process of replacing lost belongings and called for improved school discipline and investigation of student reports.

    5 hours ago · The Standard →

  4. Ebola treatment trial launches with first DRC patient enrolled

    The WHO has announced the start of a trial testing potential treatments for the Bundibugyo virus strain of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with the first patient already enrolled. More than 1,400 cases and 438 deaths have been confirmed in the DRC, and the trial is being coordinated by scientists across institutions in DRC, Belgium, and the UK.

    1 hour ago · Capital News →

Culture

  1. Students perform songs on drugs, femicide at Kenya Music Festival

    At the 98th Kenya Music Festival held in Nairobi, learners from primary and secondary schools used music, dance and drama to address social issues including alcohol and drug abuse, femicide, and the need for rehabilitation programmes. Through performances such as taarab and folk songs, students highlighted how peer pressure and substance abuse threaten education and future prospects.

    5 hours ago · The Standard →

Sport

  1. Kipyegon targets mile records at Eugene Diamond League

    Faith Kipyegon will compete in the Mile at the Eugene Diamond League on Saturday, where she holds the world record of 4:07.64 and is positioned to either break the meeting record of 4:21.25 or her own world record.

    5 hours ago · The Standard →

  2. Kenya aims to increase Olympic disciplines from six to ten

    Kenya is targeting to increase its participation at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games from six disciplines at Paris 2024 to ten disciplines. The National Olympic Committee of Kenya is working with sports associations and the government to achieve this through strengthening weak points and ensuring athletes receive full funding for qualifications.

    5 hours ago · The Standard →

  3. PGK Equator Tour reaches coast for MKO 2027, Olympic qualification

    Over 50 local professionals are competing at Nyali Golf and Country Club (July 2–5) in the fourth leg of the PGK Equator Tour, which serves as qualifying grounds for the 2027 Magical Kenya Open and 2028 Olympic Games. Samuel Njoroge leads the standings with 2,017 points.

    5 hours ago · The Standard →

  4. Spain advances to World Cup last 16 with Austria victory

    Spain defeated Austria 3–0 in the Round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup, with two goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and a Pedro Porro header securing their passage to the last 16. The victory sets up a potential matchup with Portugal and marks Spain's most complete performance of the tournament.

    8 hours ago · Citizen Digital →

  5. Swiatek, Zverev advance to Wimbledon last 32

    Defending champion Iga Swiatek defeated Karolina Pliskova 6-1, 6-3 in the second round, while Alexander Zverev also progressed on Thursday. Swiatek rebounded after an emotional first-round victory over Taylor Townsend.

    2 hours ago · Citizen Digital →

  6. Portugal beats Croatia 2-1 to advance to World Cup last 16

    Substitute Goncalo Ramos scored in the fourth minute of stoppage time to edge Portugal past Croatia in their 2026 World Cup round of 32 match in Toronto. Cristiano Ronaldo converted a penalty to equalize after Ivan Perisic's opener, and Croatia's last-gasp equalizer was ruled out for offside.

    3 hours ago · Citizen Digital →

World & Region

  1. Kenya faces AGOA duty-free access review amid governance concerns

    The US Trade Representative has launched the 26th annual review of Kenya's eligibility for AGOA benefits, with concerns over human rights abuses and corruption by the Ruto administration. The review, scheduled to include a public hearing on July 23, comes months after Trump extended the trade programme for one year after it lapsed in September 2025.

    5 hours ago · The Standard →

  2. 47 Kenyans repatriated from South Africa arrive at JKIA

    A Kenya Airways plane carrying 47 repatriated Kenyans landed at JKIA around 10 pm on Wednesday night from Johannesburg, South Africa. The returnees, including Ali Jelle Sampul from Mandera who had lived in Durban, had experienced hardship abroad.

    5 hours ago · The Standard →

  3. Germany seeks expanded spy agency powers for cyber operations

    Germany plans to give its spy agencies powers to hack, disrupt, and deceive foreign attackers in a major overhaul of post-war intelligence limits, aiming to harden its response to growing cyber and hybrid threats. The reform redefines legal constraints on the domestic security agency and foreign intelligence service, introducing new threat categories that would unlock graduated powers from basic monitoring to "particularly serious" surveillance.

    6 hours ago · Citizen Digital →

  4. Iran's Grand Mosalla prepares for Khamenei funeral rites

    Iran's Grand Mosalla religious complex is preparing to receive Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's body for a state funeral beginning Saturday. Security is heightened, with special permits required for entry, and the venue is being decorated with portraits, black flags of mourning, and red flags symbolising martyrdom.

    3 hours ago · Citizen Digital →

  5. Three sentenced to life for 2018 South Africa botanist murders

    A South African court sentenced three people to life in jail for the 2018 murders of British botanist couple Rachel and Rodney Saunders, who were kidnapped while collecting seeds in the Ngoye Forest near Durban. Sayefudeen Aslam Del Vecchio, Fatima Patel, and Musa Jackson were also convicted of kidnapping, robbery and theft, and stole the couple's vehicle, equipment and credit card.

    4 hours ago · Citizen Digital →

  6. Marburg virus case detected in Uganda during Ebola surveillance

    The World Health Organization said a case of Marburg virus disease was detected in Uganda during enhanced surveillance for Ebola. The case is a child aged one year and five months in the western Kyegegwa District, and no identified contacts have shown symptoms so far.

    4 hours ago · Citizen Digital →

Opinion

  1. Opinion: Cash payments to voters undermine Kenya electoral integrity

    Sam Gituku writes that Kenya's political class has systematised the practice of paying stipends to voters during campaign visits, a manipulation tactic that he argues undermines democratic processes ahead of the 2026 General Election.

    just now · Citizen Digital →

Kenya Minute