… The Cabinet Secretary was accompanied by Eric Mutai, Belgut MP Nelson Koech, Kericho County Commissioner Ali Omar, and several Members of the County Assembly, among other leaders
Nelson Koech: A more agile team was needed for better presidential security By Roy Ouma May 25, 2026 09:20 (EAT) Add as a Preferred Source on Google Follow us Follow on Whatsapp Follow on Google Follow on Twitter National Assembly Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence a …
… Yvonne Chepkirui, the daughter of a former powerful Kanu-era minister, Kipkalya Kones, is the last to declare her interest in the seat.Chepkirui, the wife of Belgut MP Nelson Koech, said her decision to vie is anchored in a call to serve the people of Bomet County. …
… Dr Mbijiwe told the committee, chaired by Belgut MP Nelson Koech, that the Vatican has an interest in the Education, Health and Peace Building Initiatives in the country, which he will be lobbying for their expansion if approved by parliament to serve in the position. …
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said the National Police Service will not tolerate goons and political violence as Kenya prepares for the 2027 General Election, noting that police have a new strategy to arrest and detain goons before they reach meetings to cause violence. Murkomen called on Kenyans to hold politicians who sponsor goonism accountable and urged political leaders to work with security agencies.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said the National Police Service will not tolerate goons and political violence as Kenya prepares for the 2027 General Election, noting that police have a new strategy to arrest and detain goons before they reach meetings to cause violence. Murkomen called on Kenyans to hold politicians who sponsor goonism accountable and urged political leaders to work with security agencies.
More than 25,000 runners participated in the third edition of the Belgut Marathon in Kericho County, which organisers described as their most successful iteration yet. The event, held across three race categories, raised millions in bursaries for vulnerable students.
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.
More than 5,000 runners will compete in the 2026 Belgut Half Marathon on August 23 in Kericho County, with the race founded by MP Nelson Koech to raise funds for bursaries and educational scholarships for vulnerable students.
Democracy for Citizens Party leader Rigathi Gachagua is asserting that leaks within state security and State House give him unprecedented insight into President Ruto's government, repeatedly anticipating executive moves and releasing sensitive operational details at rallies and press conferences.
Nelson Koech, Chair of Parliament's Defence Committee, writes that Kenya must remain vigilant against terrorism on the 28th anniversary of the August 1998 Al-Qaeda bombings of US Embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam, which killed more than 200 people.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua says he gathers intelligence through informants in the civil service, police, National Intelligence Service, and state corporations, and shares information only after verification while protecting source identities.
Kenya and the United Kingdom have announced the resumption of joint military training between the Kenya Defence Forces and the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK) in Nanyuki, after uncertainty over its cancellation. Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi said the resolution demonstrates the two countries' ability to resolve challenges through dialogue while maintaining their strategic partnership.
Kenya and the UK failed to reach a deal on joint military training after the UK announced the 2026 exercise with the Kenyan Defence Forces will be held outside Kenya due to unsuccessful attempts to secure licenses. Parliament's Defence Committee chair Nelson Koech attributed the move to concerns over legal jurisdiction and immunity for British personnel, as well as grievances linked to the 2012 murder of Agnes Wanjiru, which has been connected to British soldiers attached to BATUK.
DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua has alleged that bribery demands by President Ruto through Members of Parliament led to the cancellation of a planned UK military training exercise in Nanyuki involving 1,500 British soldiers scheduled for September 2026. The UK Ministry of Defence cancelled the exercise citing disagreements over defence arrangements.
An opinion piece argues that the Kenya-UK defence partnership should be reformed to address present-day concerns, drawing on historical parallels about the importance of allied cooperation in strategic decision-making.
The UK has cancelled a planned military training exercise in Laikipia after the Kenyan government failed to issue required licences, amid stalled ratification of a 2021 Defence Cooperation Agreement. A coalition of human rights activists, victims' families, and local leaders have submitted a petition to Parliament and state agencies setting conditions for any renewed deal, citing concerns over legal jurisdiction and historical injustices.
The National Assembly Defence and Foreign Relations Committee plans to push for changes to the Defence Cooperation Agreement with the UK during its 2026 review, seeking to remove legal protections that allow British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK) personnel to avoid Kenyan scrutiny. The committee wants revised provisions requiring British troops to cooperate with parliamentary inquiries, judicial proceedings and criminal investigations.
Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has been ranked Kenya's best-performing Member of Parliament in the latest Infotrak survey with an 80 per cent approval rating, followed by Joseph Kalasinga (Kabuchai) at 78 per cent and Ndindi Nyoro and John Bwire tied for third at 76 per cent each.
Emurua Dikirr MP Nelson Koech constructed a house in Soget for the family of Amos Kipngetich, who died in a February helicopter crash that also claimed the life of former area MP Johana Ngeno and five others. The house was handed over during a prayer and dedication ceremony attended by the family and local leaders.
Emurua Dikirr MP Nelson Koech has constructed a house for the family of Amos Kipngetich, one of six victims of a February helicopter crash that killed former area MP Johana Ngeno. The house was handed over during a prayer and dedication ceremony in Soget.
Members of Parliament have criticized the State Department for Diaspora Affairs, led by Principal Secretary Roseline Njogu, for persistent delays and failure to respond adequately to concerns about Kenyans living and working abroad, including inquiries on a case where a woman was killed in Australia.
President Ruto's allies, including Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot and others, defended the Sh4.8 trillion 2026/27 budget as people-centred, highlighting allocations for education, sports, infrastructure and job creation, particularly the absorption of 20,000 Junior Secondary School teachers into permanent positions and a Sh408 billion Teachers Service Commission budget.
The family of Agnes Wanjiru, whose 2012 murder has been linked to British soldiers in BATUK, was reportedly denied access to a closed-door Parliamentary session on June 10, 2026, where the National Assembly's Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations deliberated on findings from its inquiry into the military unit's conduct. The family received no formal explanation for the denial.
Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has called on school principals and boards of management to implement proactive safety and security protocols, including ensuring dormitories are not overcrowded, have adequate emergency exits, and install CCTV cameras in strategic locations.
Belgut MP Nelson Koech has welcomed recent changes to the Presidential Escort Unit, saying a more agile team was needed following a security breach in Kilifi County on Sunday, and calling for enhanced training of the unit.
United Democratic Alliance candidate David Kipsang Keter has been elected the new MP for Emurua Dikirr Constituency, garnering 18,266 votes to defeat Democracy for Citizens Party candidate Vincent Kibet Rotich, who received 10,760 votes. The by-election followed the death of former MP Johanna Ngeno in a helicopter crash earlier this year.
Yvonne Chepkirui, wife of Belgut MP Nelson Koech and daughter of former minister Kipkalya Kones, has declared her candidacy for the Bomet senatorial seat in 2027, joining a growing field of aspirants. She holds a Master's degree from a UK university and says her campaign will focus on women and youth representation in governance.
Dr Julius Mbijiwe, nominated as Ambassador to the Vatican, defended the creation of a new diplomatic mission before Parliament's Defence and Foreign Relations Committee, arguing that the Vatican's involvement in education, health, and peace-building initiatives in Kenya justifies the embassy and will allow him to lobby for expansion of those programmes if approved.