News reports
Order a long-term news report on Western Kenya
Every mention in the Kenyan press over the period you choose, compiled as a PDF or Word document.
Verbatim sentences from the source article.
The Standard
… According to Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo, Western Kenya has the highest concentration, with 38 identified criminal gangs, followed by the Rift Valley with 22 and Nairobi with 20. …
List: 109 criminal gangs on government's radarThe Standard
… Speaking in Kisumu during the launch of the 2026 Johari Awards in Western Kenya, NCBA Group Director, Enterprise, Lennox Mugambi, said asset financing remained critical in helping individuals and businesses overcome financial barriers to acquiring assets.“As we mark 20 years of J …
NCBA bank launches 2026 Johari awards in Western Kenya as asset finance demand growsCitizen Digital
… In a study of 57 patients receiving oxygen in rural Western Kenya, nearly a third experienced interruptions. …
World Oxygen Day: Oxygen saves lives - Communities must demand accessibilityThe Standard
Audio By VocalizeFor generations, the church has occupied a special place in the hearts and minds of communities in Western Kenya. …
Kill, steal and cleanse: Worry as churches become targets of criminalsCitizen Digital
… Audio By Vocalize Africa’s fastest man Ferdinand Omanyala has expanded his grassroots sprint development programme in Western Kenya, launching another Omanyala Sprints Club at St Joseph’s Boys National School, Kitale, on Tuesday. …
Omanyala launches another sprints club at St Joseph’s Boys KitaleCitizen Digital
… Audio By Vocalize Africa’s fastest man Ferdinand Omanyala has expanded his grassroots sprint development programme in Western Kenya, launching another Omanyala Sprints Club at St Joseph’s Boys National School, Kitale, on Tuesday. …
Omanyala launches another sprints club at St Joseph’s Boys KitaleThe Standard
Chickens are a common sight in many homes across Western Kenya. For generations, however, most households have kept the birds mainly for their own consumption, giving little thought to their potential as a reliable source of income. …
From pot to profit: How Western Kenya is turning dinner staple into cashThe Standard
… Predictions show that the highest-intensity rainfall is expected in Northern Kenya, Central Kenya, the Rift Valley, the Lake Victoria basin and Western Kenya.“The effects of flooding extend beyond deaths and damage to properties, particularly for vulnerable communities in informa …
KHRC warns El Nino response could deepen human rights violationsCitizen Digital
… Speculation flared up following Kalonzo's weekend political tour in Western Kenya and Siaya, where comments on democratic processes and post-election stability were interpreted by some observers as a potential softening of his opposition stance. …
Wiper rejects coalition rumors with President Ruto, vows independent 2027 presidential runCapital News
… Atwoli also rejected Gachagua’s claim about his home area in Western Kenya. “Gachagua claims that I come from Kisa North, which is false. …
Atwoli tells Gachagua to stop invoking his name for political relevanceFormer Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has challenged Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna to demonstrate political influence in Western Kenya by confronting critics, including President Ruto's aide Farouk Kibet and COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli, who have attacked his leadership as he positions for a 2027 presidential bid.
15 hours ago · Capital News →
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has challenged Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna to demonstrate political influence in Western Kenya by confronting critics, including President Ruto's aide Farouk Kibet and COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli, who have attacked his leadership as he positions for a 2027 presidential bid.
15 hours ago · Capital News →
DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua has alleged that President Ruto pressured Mudavadi to dissolve the Amani National Congress party and join the ruling coalition, claiming Gachagua personally negotiated the deal at a price of KSh20 million.
18 hours ago · Citizen Digital →
Safarilink Aviation will resume mid-morning flight service between Kisumu International Airport and Wilson Airport in Nairobi from November 1, 2026, with an additional service from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport starting November 10. The airline cites traveller demand for more flexible departure times.
30 October 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Nominated Senator Connie Wakwabubi was booed while rallying support for President William Ruto at a funeral in Bumula, Bungoma County, after which area MP Jack Wamboka grabbed her microphone and declared the region's support for Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna's one-term campaign, intensifying the battle for Western Kenya votes.
27 October 2026 · Citizen Digital →
The National Transport and Safety Authority has called for road crashes to be declared a national disaster following a head-on collision at Mtito Andei that killed 23 people and injured 25 others. The authority cited approximately 20,000 crashes claiming more than 5,000 lives annually, and said declaring a national disaster would enable coordinated government action and adequate funding for road safety interventions.
25 October 2026 · Capital News →
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula is leveraging his support for President William Ruto's re-election in 2027 to strengthen his presidential ambitions for 2032, building on decades of political experience and regional influence in Western Kenya.
24 October 2026 · The Standard →
At the burial of Burundi Nabwera, Kiminini MP Kakai Bisau urged Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya to cut short his speech to allow the funeral to proceed by 2pm as specified in the deceased's will. The disagreement escalated into a heated seven-minute exchange before a family member intervened to end the standoff.
24 October 2026 · The Standard →
Government-leaning leaders under a broad-based government arrangement have intensified campaigns to rally support for President William Ruto's re-election bid ahead of the 2027 General Election. ODM, led by party National Chairperson Gladys Wanga, campaigned in Turkana North and Lodwar while a separate Kenya Kwanza team traversed Western Kenya, with ODM leaders vowing the party remains united and committed to working with Ruto.
23 October 2026 · Citizen Digital →
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula, speaking in Bungoma, told young politicians aspiring to the presidency that leadership requires experience, national networks, and years of political engagement rather than sudden entry into politics. He cited Kenya's political history, referencing founding President Jomo Kenyatta and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga as examples of leaders who rose to prominence after years of political involvement.
23 October 2026 · Citizen Digital →
The government has assumed coordination and oversight of the Dual Technical and Vocational Education and Training programme in Western Kenya as external project support ends in December 2026, transferring responsibility to the Ministry of Education's State Department for TVET to ensure continuity.
23 October 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital is undertaking infrastructure upgrades and equipment installation, including renovations of six operating theaters, as part of a multi-phased modernization project. The hospital plans to expand into a 2,000-bed medical city with a Sh4.9 billion complex to replace aging infrastructure and improve healthcare access across Western Kenya and neighboring regions.
22 October 2026 · The Standard →
Political leaders paid tribute to veteran politician Burudi Nabwera at his funeral service, calling for tolerance, mutual respect, and national unity while urging Kenyans to embrace mature politics and shun insults. Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi described Nabwera as an accomplished diplomat and public servant, urging leaders to separate political competition from personal hostility.
21 October 2026 · The Standard →
Teachers' unions in Western Kenya have raised concerns over the safety of examination officials and the government's preparedness as KCSE examinations begin, citing fears that heavy rains could cause flooding that interferes with exam administration, particularly in flood-prone areas like Budalang'i in Busia County and Malava in Kakamega County where landslides have occurred.
19 October 2026 · The Standard →
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has declared that his rebranded political outfit, Linda Mwananchi (formerly the Equitable Party), can unseat President William Ruto in the 2027 General Election, dismissing concerns about the movement's capacity and calling for opposition unity against the President.
18 October 2026 · The Standard →
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale called for a "coalition of the marginalised" at the National Muslim Leaders Convention 2026, urging Muslim leaders and historically marginalised communities to support President William Ruto ahead of the 2027 General Election. Duale said the Ruto administration was addressing historical injustices through policies on representation, resource allocation and economic development, citing sugar factory revival in Western Kenya.
16 October 2026 · Citizen Digital →
A year after Raila Odinga's death, multiple politicians—including President Ruto, former President Kenyatta, Wiper's Kalonzo, and ODM figures—are invoking different aspects of his legacy as they position themselves ahead of the 2027 General Election. The contest exposes divisions over whether Raila represented a movement capable of cooperating with those in power or an opposition tradition focused on challenging government and demanding accountability.
15 October 2026 · Capital News →
President William Ruto announced further reductions in fertilizer and maize seed prices to support farmers affected by drought, with a 50kg bag of fertilizer dropping to Ksh.2,000 from Ksh.2,500 and a 2kg packet of maize seeds at Ksh.150 from November, funded by a Ksh.5 billion government subsidy.
11 October 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital, elevated to Level 6 status in June 2025 as the largest referral facility in Nyanza and Western Kenya, is reportedly plagued by patient neglect and mistreatment despite initial hopes that the upgrade would improve healthcare in the region.
11 October 2026 · The Standard →
Kenya's Interior Ministry identified 109 criminal gangs across eight regions between January and August, with Western Kenya and the Rift Valley accounting for more than half. Security agencies say they will remain alert to prevent gangs from being exploited for election-related intimidation or violence.
7 October 2026 · The Standard →
Kenya's government has identified 109 organised criminal gangs operating across the country, up from 89 declared illegal in 2016, warning that their involvement in violence and use of youth groups for political intimidation pose a security threat as the country approaches the 2027 General Election. Western Kenya has 38 of these groups, the Rift Valley 22, and Nairobi 20.
6 October 2026 · Capital News →
Kenya's government has identified 109 organised criminal gangs operating across the country and warned against the use of youth groups for political violence ahead of the 2027 General Election. Between January and August 2026, security agencies arrested 1,827 suspects linked to goonism and organised crime, securing 729 convictions.
6 October 2026 · Capital News →
The government has listed 109 organised criminal gangs operating across the country, with Western Kenya having the highest concentration at 38 groups, followed by the Rift Valley with 22 and Nairobi with 20. From January to August, police arrested 1,827 suspects linked to organised criminal activity and secured 729 convictions.
6 October 2026 · The Standard →
NCBA Group is expanding its asset financing solutions to include electric vehicles and solar energy, maintaining a 30 per cent share of Kenya's asset finance market in the first half of 2026. The bank launched the 2026 Johari Awards in Western Kenya, marking 20 years of supporting customers in agriculture, trade, transport, manufacturing and services.
3 October 2026 · The Standard →
On World Oxygen Day, a maternal health policy advisor highlights oxygen's critical role in saving lives during childbirth complications, newborn emergencies, and severe illness, noting that Kenya faces significant need for medical oxygen as respiratory infections remain a leading cause of illness.
2 October 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Churches in Western Kenya are increasingly being broken into, with valuable equipment stolen and guards attacked. A church guard was murdered inside a church compound in Makunga, Kakamega County, marking an escalation in crimes targeting places of worship that have traditionally been regarded as safe spaces.
2 October 2026 · The Standard →
Ferdinand Omanyala, Africa's fastest man, has launched another Omanyala Sprints Club at St Joseph's Boys National School in Kitale as part of his grassroots sprint development programme in Western Kenya, following a similar launch at Friends School Kamusinga.
30 September 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Ferdinand Omanyala, Africa's fastest man, opened an Omanyala Sprints Club at St Joseph's Boys National School, Kitale, on Tuesday as part of his grassroots sprint development programme in Western Kenya, following a similar launch at Friends School Kamusinga.
30 September 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Households in Western Kenya have traditionally kept chickens for subsistence, but farmers are now shifting toward commercial poultry farming as a source of income, moving away from the long-standing practice of free-range birds foraging on compounds.
30 September 2026 · The Standard →
The Kenya Human Rights Commission has warned the government against repeating human rights violations from the 2024 floods as the country braces for heavy El Niño rains, urging that human rights be central to preparations and relief operations. The commission notes that about 80 per cent of the country is at risk of severe flooding, with all 47 counties expected to be severely affected, and warns that emergency interventions could disproportionately affect vulnerable communities in informal settlements.
30 September 2026 · The Standard →
The Wiper Patriotic Front has dismissed speculation that leader Kalonzo Musyoka would join President Ruto's government or strike a pre-election coalition, declaring the party has "no dealings, no understanding, and no intention of working with Ruto" and will compete independently in the 2027 General Election.
29 September 2026 · Citizen Digital →