Kenya Minute.
Thursday, 20 August 2026
Kenya’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Thursday, 20 August 2026
Nairobi—:—London—:—New York—:—Beijing—:—
Home All stories from today — updates as new items land

Politics

  1. Opposition pushes to exclude Smartmatic from 2027 election

    Kenya's opposition is campaigning before the 2027 General Election to prevent Smartmatic technology from being used in the next election.

    3 hours ago · The Standard →

  2. Opposition invites ICC to probe Kenya's political violence crisis

    Opposition leaders at a press conference in Nairobi on August 19, 2026, expressed concern over the country's deteriorating security and invited the International Criminal Court to investigate political violence in Kenya.

    3 hours ago · The Standard →

Business

  1. Japan, Thailand, China lead global property investment interest surge

    A study by online trading platform Taurex ranked the world's top 10 lucrative housing markets, finding that Japan tops the list with buyer interest jumping 245 per cent in the past three years, while Thailand and China also rank among the hottest markets. The research examined nearly 40 countries since 2022, tracking online searches for property purchases and rentals, rental yields, and price-to-income ratios.

    3 hours ago · The Standard →

  2. Equity Group profit surges 32pc; StanChart declines 17pc

    Equity Group Holdings' first-half net profit rose 32 per cent to Sh43.80 billion, while Standard Chartered Bank Kenya's profit fell by 16.8 per cent due to lower lending margins, showing mixed performance across Kenya's banking sector.

    3 hours ago · The Standard →

  3. Kenya Airways warns of earnings hit from 72% fuel cost surge

    Kenya Airways has issued a profit warning, citing a 72% surge in fuel costs following the war in the Middle East as a compounding challenge expected to hit its earnings this year.

    3 hours ago · The Standard →

Society

  1. Health Summit portrays smooth sector despite persistent challenges

    A Health Summit culminating in a presidential town hall at KICC in Nairobi on August 18, 2026 presented a picture of the health docket working smoothly, even though the sector has been plagued by challenges.

    3 hours ago · The Standard →

  2. Teachers carry professional responsibilities beyond school hours

    Teaching is a profession built on trust, influence and example, with teachers' responsibility extending beyond the classroom gate and into their lives outside school hours.

    3 hours ago · The Standard →

  3. Nearly three in ten learners lack Grade 3 literacy and numeracy skills

    A 2026 Junior School Education and Senior School Survey Report shows that after seven years in school, nearly three in every 10 learners are joining Junior School without being able to read and understand a simple Grade 3 story or solve a basic Grade 3 mathematics problem.

    3 hours ago · The Standard →

Sport

  1. KCB Rugby coach Amonde focuses on club after Shujaa exit

    Kenya Rugby Union terminated Andrew Amonde's contract as a strength and conditioning coach with Kenya Sevens, citing a contractual clause preventing national team coaches from holding similar positions at club level. Amonde, now focused on his role with KCB Rugby, said he will not dispute the dismissal and intends to give the club his full attention.

    3 hours ago · The Standard →

  2. Belgut Half Marathon races in Kericho to fund educational scholarships

    Over 5,000 runners will compete in the 2026 Belgut Half Marathon on August 23, featuring races of 21km, 10km, and 5km with top prizes of Sh500,000. The event, organised by Belgut MP Nelson Koech, aims to raise funds for bursaries and educational scholarships for bright, needy, orphaned and vulnerable students.

    3 hours ago · The Standard →

  3. Kenya must build scientific support to sustain athletic success

    Kenya's athletic talent is plentiful, but the country lacks the scientific infrastructure—physiologists, nutritionists, data analysis—that rival nations use to develop and sustain medal-winning careers. Without proper screening and laboratory support, Kenya loses athletes to preventable injuries and doping, while foreign competitors exploit Kenyan altitude and trails to gain advantage.

    3 hours ago · The Standard →

Tourism & Environment

  1. Kenya prepares as El Niño threatens above-normal rainfall

    Following the October-November-December forecast release, Kenya is focusing on preparedness for El Niño rainfall that is expected to cause devastating floods across the country. North Eastern, Coast, and central Kenya regions are expected to receive rains five times heavier than normal seasonal rainfall.

    3 hours ago · The Standard →

World & Region

  1. US sanctions ICC president, citing corruption and politicisation

    The United States sanctioned ICC President Tomoko Akane and trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye, calling the ICC "corrupt and fatally politicised"; the ICC responded by calling the sanctions a "flagrant attack" on court independence, with EU officials voicing support for the court's autonomy.

    6 hours ago · Citizen Digital →

Opinion

  1. Religious leaders face difficult healing task in Homa Bay

    An opinion piece in The Standard describes the difficult task facing religious leaders in Homa Bay County to address the aftermath of violence in which people lost lives, sustained injuries, and property was destroyed.

    3 hours ago · The Standard →

  2. Africa's aviation safety extends beyond accident prevention measures

    The article argues that public perception of aviation safety in Africa is often measured solely by accident incidents, but the industry's safety challenge encompasses broader systemic issues beyond individual mishaps.

    3 hours ago · The Standard →

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