Kenya Minute.
Tuesday, 15 September 2026
Kenya’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Tuesday, 15 September 2026
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Kenyan press · Place

Western Kenya

2026-04-242026-09-15

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

  1. July 2026
  2. Citizen Digital

    Drawing lessons from the successful leasing and turnaround of public sugar factories in Western Kenya, Kagwe said similar collaboration between Government, investors and local communities could restore KISCOL into a profitable enterprise that benefits everyone.

    CS Kagwe unveils plan to revive Coastal sugarcane sector, restore Kwale Sugar Company
  3. The Standard

    During his Western Kenya tour last weekend, supporters began making voluntary contributions to the movement.

    The Sifuna crown: Have Gen Zs already found their presidential voice?
  4. Capital News

    NAIROBI, Kenya, July 27 -Nairobi Gubernatorial hopeful Pauline Njoroge has waded into the ongoing political row over Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna’s criticism of the Affordable Housing Programme, arguing that the senator’s controversial reference to chickens in Western Kenya was a

    Pauline Njoroge Defends Sifuna’s ‘Chicken’ Remarks, Says Critics Missed the Point
  5. The Standard

    A series of peaceful political rallies by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna across Western Kenya has taken Western Kenya by storm and renewed debate over the recent spate of violence that has disrupted political gatherings in other parts of the country.

    Peaceful Sifuna tour raises questions over recent wave of political rally disruptions
  6. The Standard

    For more than three decades, politics in Western Kenya has largely revolved around a familiar cast of political heavyweights.

    The hurricane: How Sifuna's wave is shaking Mulembe politics
  7. Capital News

    NAIROBI, Kenya, Jul 27 — Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna says the Linda Mwananchi movement is increasingly being powered by ordinary Kenyans after residents across Western Kenya turned out to donate money and gifts during the coalition’s latest mobilisation rallies, in what leaders

    Western Kenya residents shower Sifuna’s Linda Mwananchi movement with cash donations
  8. Capital News

    NAIROBI, Kenya, Jul 27 — The Linda Mwananchi movement on Sunday intensified its campaign to unseat President William Ruto in the 2027 General Election, taking its Western Kenya mobilisation drive into Bungoma County as opposition leaders sought to consolidate support in one of Ke

    Linda Mwananchi storms Bungoma as opposition intensifies 2027 push
  9. Citizen Digital

    The meet-the-people forum at the AGM was part of the series of many more meetings Mudavadi has recently held in Western Kenya after visiting Trans Nzoia and Kakamega counties two weeks ago where he also met the Tiriki elders and opinion leaders.

    Stop the propaganda that elections will not be peaceful: Mudavadi tells opposition
  10. Citizen Digital

    The leaders dismissed efforts by pro-President William Ruto leaders from the Western region to unite the area behind the President, arguing that for decades, Western Kenya's political leadership has failed to provide meaningful direction for the Luhya community.

    Linda Mwananchi leaders declare Western vote key to unseating Ruto in 2027
  11. The Standard

    With barely a year to the 2027 General Election, Western Kenya has become the country's hottest political battleground, where rival political heavyweights are racing to consolidate one of Kenya's most influential voting blocs.

    Face off as rival politicians scramble for a piece of Mulembe nation

Sunday 13 September

  1. Kenya Kwanza leaders warn against political violence, tribalism

    Kenya Kwanza leaders warned against escalating political violence and tribalism ahead of the 2027 General Election, urging rival camps to allow political meetings to proceed without disruption and calling for political competition to be centred on ideas and development.

    13 September 2026 · Citizen Digital

Saturday 12 September

  1. Lions SightFirst Eye Hospital opens in Kisumu

    A specialised eye hospital has opened in Kisumu, offering optical, general, and surgical eye-care services to patients in Nyanza, Western Kenya and the wider East African region. Governor Prof Anyang' Nyong'o said the facility would help address the region's need for specialised eye care and allow patients to access treatment closer to home instead of travelling to Nairobi.

    12 September 2026 · Citizen Digital

  2. Wamboka and Natembeya warn Uganda against 2027 election interference

    Bumula MP Jack Wamboka and Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya cautioned Uganda against any attempt to have its citizens participate in Kenya's 2027 elections, with Wamboka calling on President Museveni to discourage Ugandans from being used in the poll. Wamboka linked the warning to the government's recent crackdown on Burundian nationals, alleging that some foreigners were targeted for refusing to acquire Kenyan identification documents and support President Ruto's re-election bid.

    12 September 2026 · The Standard

Wednesday 9 September

  1. Government classifies 18 counties as high-risk for El Niño rains

    The government has identified 18 counties as high-risk areas ahead of heavy rains and flooding expected from October, with a multi-agency team already working in Baringo County on evacuation and preparation efforts.

    9 September 2026 · Citizen Digital

  2. Heavy rains forecast for Western Kenya as El Niño conditions begin

    Heavy rains are expected to begin in September and continue through February as El Niño conditions set in, with the government urging riparian residents to relocate to safer areas. The Ministry of Health is launching a mitigation plan in 18 high-risk counties.

    9 September 2026 · Citizen Digital

Tuesday 8 September

  1. Western Kenya leaders unite behind Ruto 2027 presidential bid

    Leaders from Western Kenya met in Kisumu to declare support for President William Ruto's re-election in 2027, citing the presidency as their immediate political priority. More than 22 elected and nominated leaders attended the meeting to assess the political landscape and advance the region's development interests.

    8 September 2026 · Capital News

Monday 7 September

  1. Western Kenya caucus demands DP post in Ruto's next term

    A Western Kenya leaders' caucus convened by Cooperatives Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya has demanded the Deputy President position in President William Ruto's post-2027 administration while backing his re-election, signalling a clash with Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi's camp.

    7 September 2026 · Capital News

  2. Oparanya convenes Western Kenya leaders in Kisumu

    Cooperatives Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya brought together more than twenty-two elected and nominated leaders from Western Kenya in Kisumu to discuss the region's political situation and development priorities, with focus on cooperative sector issues including coffee and SACCOs ahead of the 2027 General Election.

    7 September 2026 · Capital News

  3. Ruto allies defend IEBC against opposition rigging claims

    President William Ruto's allies in Western Kenya, led by Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka, have defended the IEBC against opposition claims that it could rig the 2027 General Election. The leaders urged politicians to respect the electoral commission's constitutional independence and accused the opposition of undermining confidence in the body.

    7 September 2026 · The Standard

  4. Barasa-Oparanya power struggle weakens Ruto's Western grip

    A supremacy battle between Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa and Cooperative Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya is escalating and threatening to weaken the broad-based government in Western Kenya. The rivalry, combined with Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna's rising influence in the region, has complicated President William Ruto's political position in the voter-rich Western region.

    7 September 2026 · The Standard

  5. Police seize Sh10 million bhang in Naivasha sting

    The anti-narcotics unit recovered bhang worth more than Sh10 million along the Mai Mahiu-Narok Road in Naivasha and arrested three suspects who were unloading and repackaging it. The Nakuru county police commander said the drugs were destined for Nairobi from Western Kenya and that the road is a major corridor used by drug peddlers to ferry bhang to Nairobi and Mombasa.

    7 September 2026 · The Standard

Sunday 6 September

  1. Gachagua backs Sifuna for 2027 presidential race

    Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has backed Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna's presidential ambitions for 2027, saying age should not prevent young leaders from seeking the top seat and describing Sifuna as one of the serious contenders. Gachagua said he has no problem either deputising Sifuna or Sifuna deputising him, and pushed back against COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli's suggestion that the 44-year-old Sifuna is too young to run.

    6 September 2026 · Citizen Digital

  2. Busia County connects 1,018 households to electricity via matching fund model

    More than 1,000 households in Busia County have been connected to electricity through a partnership between the county government and the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC) under a Matching Fund Programme, where county governments and REREC contribute funds on a shilling-for-shilling basis. Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi said Busia County contributed KSh154 million between the 2023/2024 and 2025/2026 financial years and urged other counties to adopt the model to accelerate rural electrification.

    6 September 2026 · Citizen Digital

Saturday 5 September

  1. UDA-ODM coalition drafting new framework for 2027 election

    Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi announced that the ruling UDA-led coalition is developing a new broad-based coalition framework and joint manifesto to support President William Ruto's re-election bid in August 2027. A committee with representatives from UDA and ODM will craft the framework, which will set out the coalition's agenda for the five years following the 2027 election.

    5 September 2026 · Capital News

  2. Mudavadi urges opposition to stop attacking IEBC

    Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has called on opposition leaders to cease criticising the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), arguing that the electoral agency's independence must be respected and that attacks on it could undermine public confidence in the August 2027 General Election. Mudavadi defended the current IEBC leadership under Chairperson Erastus Ethekon and cited recent by-elections, including the Ol Kalou poll, as evidence of the commission's ability to conduct credible elections.

    5 September 2026 · Capital News

  3. Water Cabinet Secretary criticizes delays in Sh220m Ikolomani project

    Water Cabinet Secretary Eric Muga has criticized the slow implementation of the Sh220 million Shitoli water project in Ikolomani, Kakamega County, which is seven months behind schedule with only 11 per cent of works completed against a 77 per cent time lapse. Muga questioned the Lake Victoria North Water Works Development Agency and contractor Geo-Data Systems, saying the explanations for delay were unconvincing and that the project, expected to serve 40,000 residents, was expected to be completed in November.

    5 September 2026 · The Standard

  4. Mudavadi says opposition attacks on IEBC threaten 2027 election

    Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has accused opposition leaders of attacking the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission to undermine confidence in the 2027 election, arguing the attacks aim to discredit the election outcome before voting takes place. Mudavadi defended the commission's independence, citing recent by-elections as evidence of its capacity to deliver free and fair polls, and warned opposition leaders against attempting to dictate how the IEBC conducts its work.

    5 September 2026 · The Standard

Friday 4 September

  1. Stakeholders urge Parliament to let EACC retain portion of recovered assets

    Stakeholders and residents in Western Kenya have called on Parliament to amend anti-corruption laws to allow the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission to retain a percentage of funds and assets it recovers from corruption, arguing this would strengthen investigations and speed asset recovery.

    4 September 2026 · Citizen Digital

  2. Parliament questions millions paid to secondary school heads body

    Parliament's Public Investments Committee is investigating payments by national secondary schools to the Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESHA), with some schools paying as much as Sh6 million. The committee wants to establish whether KESHA is legally entitled to receive public funds and whether its activities are subject to audit by the Auditor-General.

    4 September 2026 · Capital News

Tuesday 1 September

  1. Kenya expands infant screening for sickle cell disease

    Kenya is stepping up universal infant screening for sickle cell disease, with an estimated 250,000 people living with the condition nationwide and about 14,000 children born with it each year. Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said the government is expanding screening, strengthening comprehensive care, and training health workers to support early diagnosis and treatment.

    1 September 2026 · Capital News

  2. Aviation workers' strike grounds flights at Kenyan airports

    An aviation workers' strike in its second day left numerous passengers stranded at airports across Kenya, including at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, where some overnight passengers lacked accommodation and many flights were cancelled or rescheduled.

    1 September 2026 · The Standard

  3. PS Mang'eni accuses Ababu of disloyalty as youth disrupt UDA drive

    Youth disrupted the opening of a UDA party office in Budalangi, Busia County, on Monday, forcing police to intervene. The incident exposed growing political differences within the ruling party, with Cooperatives and MSMEs Principal Secretary Susan Mang'eni accusing Kenya's Ambassador to Uganda Ababu Namwamba of working with a rival political group while claiming government support.

    1 September 2026 · The Standard

Monday 31 August

  1. Lake Victoria hatchery restocks fish to meet regional demand

    The Lake Basin Development Authority and partners have established a state-of-the-art hatchery to produce fingerlings and restock Lake Victoria as fish stocks struggle to keep pace with demand in Nyanza and Western Kenya.

    31 August 2026 · Citizen Digital

Sunday 30 August

  1. Gachagua leaves DCP deputies to lead party during US tour

    Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, leader of the Democracy for Citizens Party, has delegated party leadership to Deputy Party Leader Cleophas Malala and Secretary General-designate Senator John Methu while he spends about 50 days in the United States engaging the diaspora ahead of 2027 elections.

    30 August 2026 · Capital News

  2. Ruto intensifies campaign in Western Kenya ahead of 2027 election

    President William Ruto is deploying an aggressive campaign in Western Kenya to reclaim grassroots support as Senator Edwin Sifuna's Linda Mwananchi movement gains traction in the region. Observers view the president's tactics, including deploying foot soldiers with cash, as signs of desperation ahead of the 2027 General Election.

    30 August 2026 · The Standard

  3. Ruto escalates Western Kenya campaign as Sifuna's movement gains ground

    President William Ruto is intensifying efforts to reclaim political support in Western Kenya ahead of the 2027 General Election, deploying operatives with cash to counter Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna's Linda Mwananchi movement, which has been gaining traction in the region. Political observers characterize the president's tactics as a sign of desperation over potential losses in a strategically important electoral zone.

    30 August 2026 · The Standard

Saturday 29 August

  1. Ruto defends affordable housing after criticism over high-rise suitability

    President Ruto mocked criticism of his Affordable Housing Programme, dismissing arguments that high-rise buildings are unsuitable for communities with livestock. He questioned why chickens could not be transported using lifts and noted that 1.1 million young people are employed in the scheme.

    29 August 2026 · Capital News

Friday 28 August

  1. Wetangula warns politicians against undermining IEBC before 2027 polls

    National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula has cautioned politicians against interfering with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission's operations and procurement processes, saying such attempts could erode public confidence in the 2027 General Election. His remarks come as former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has alleged that the IEBC's tender for an Integrated Elections Management System was designed to favour South Korean firm Miru Systems Co. Ltd, though the IEBC has rejected these allegations and said the procurement process remains transparent and at an early stage.

    28 August 2026 · Capital News

  2. Gangs escalate violence across Western Kenya region

    Killings, armed robberies and brutal assaults are spreading across parts of Western Kenya, including Bungoma, Kakamega and Busia, forcing residents, traders and boda boda operators to change their daily routines as criminals strike people on their way home from work, school or businesses.

    28 August 2026 · The Standard

Thursday 27 August

  1. El Niño rains expected to begin in Kenya as early as September

    The Kenya Meteorological Service Authority warns that about 20 counties could begin receiving enhanced rainfall as early as September, with western Kenya and the Rift Valley expected to see rainfall first, while most other regions anticipate the October-December short rains between mid-to-late October.

    27 August 2026 · The Standard

Western Kenya — Kenyan press coverage · Kenya Minute