Author: Mwenda Gitonga

At least 20 people have died while in police custody in the past four months, according to the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), raising serious concerns about systemic abuse and brutality within Kenyan police cells. Speaking before the National Assembly Committee on Administration and Internal Security on Thursday, IPOA Chairperson Issack Hassan cited the recent death of blogger and teacher Albert Ojwang at Central Police Station, Nairobi, as the most disturbing example of what he described as “torture and murder.” “We have had 20 deaths in police custody in the last four months,” Hassan told the committee, underscoring a growing…

Kenyans can now file their Nil tax returns via the eCitizen platform, the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has announced, marking a major shift aimed at easing tax compliance ahead of the June 30 deadline. In a statement released Thursday, KRA confirmed the rollout of Nil return filing services on eCitizen as part of a wider effort to simplify and modernise tax collection in Kenya. “You can now file NIL returns on eCitizen; filing taxes has never been this easy. Use this and escape the commotion,” the authority said. Previously, all tax filing—including Nil returns—was exclusively conducted via iTax, KRA’s long-standing…

The High Court has issued conservatory orders halting the implementation of Executive Order No. 2 of 2023, which sought to transfer custody of the Public Seal from the Attorney General to the Head of Public Service (HOPS) in the Executive Office of the President. Justice Chacha Mwita delivered the ruling on Thursday, June 12, declaring that the transfer raises “fundamental constitutional and legal issues” that must be fully litigated before any action is taken. “A conservatory order is hereby issued restraining or stopping implementation of Executive Order No. 2 of 2023 to the extent that it purports to reorganise government…

Kenya’s education sector has received a significant boost with a Sh702.7 billion allocation in the 2025/26 financial year, accounting for 28 per cent of the country’s Sh4.29 trillion national budget. The funding underscores the government’s stated commitment to education despite increasing scrutiny over delayed capitation disbursements, a ballooning public debt, and questions over the sustainability of free education. While tabling the estimates in Parliament on Thursday, Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi outlined the sector’s funding priorities, with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) allocated the largest share at Sh387.2 billion. This includes Sh7.2 billion for the recruitment of intern teachers and…

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has told Parliament that CCTV footage at Nairobi’s Central Police Station was deliberately erased just hours after the death of digital influencer Albert Ojwang in police custody. While appearing before the National Assembly’s Security Committee on Thursday, IPOA Chairperson Issack Hassan revealed that logs from the digital video recorder (DVR) system showed hard drives were replaced on June 8, 2025, at 07:23:29 and 07:23:48, mere hours after Ojwang was booked at the station under OB number 136/7/6/2025 at 21:35 the night before. “Somebody called someone to come and switch off a particular section, but…

Belgian midfielder Kevin De Bruyne has joined Napoli on a free transfer following his release from Manchester City, the Serie A champions’ president Aurelio De Laurentiis has confirmed. De Laurentiis made the announcement via social media on Thursday, posting a photo of himself with the 32-year-old midfielder and the simple caption: “Welcome Kevin!” The announcement ends weeks of speculation about De Bruyne’s future, with the former Manchester City star choosing Napoli as his next destination after nine highly successful years in the Premier League. De Bruyne had become a free agent following the expiry of his contract at City, where…

Harambee Starlets will begin their 2025 CECAFA Senior Women’s Championship campaign on June 14 against Burundi in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Kenya is one of five nations confirmed for the regional tournament scheduled for June 12 to 22, alongside hosts Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan, and Burundi. The championship will be played in a round-robin format, with the top two teams advancing to the final on June 22. The Starlets’ fixture list includes their opening clash against Burundi on June 14, followed by Uganda on June 17, South Sudan on June 19, and Tanzania on June 21. All matches will be…

Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja has declared that any officer implicated in the death of blogger and teacher Albert Ojwang while in custody must step aside, including high-ranking officials such as Deputy Inspector General Eluid Lagat, if found culpable. Appearing before a parliamentary committee on Thursday alongside the Director of Criminal Investigations Mohamed Amin, Kanja emphasized that no police officer would be shielded from accountability. “Any person whose name will be mentioned as having played any role in the death of Albert Ojwang must record their statement. If the DIG is going to be mentioned, then on that basis,…

Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi is expected to present the 2025/2026 national budget today at Parliament buildings in Nairobi, outlining how President William Ruto’s administration plans to finance a record Ksh.4.2 trillion in government spending for the new fiscal year. This will be Mbadi’s first budget since taking over the Finance docket, becoming the second Treasury boss under the Kenya Kwanza government. His presentation comes amid growing scrutiny over the country’s debt levels and revenue performance. The government plans to fund the ambitious budget primarily through domestic revenue collection, external grants, and borrowing. According to the Treasury, tax revenue is…

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has paid a heartfelt tribute to the late Albert Ojwang, a digital influencer and close ally of his communications team, following his death in police custody last week. In a deeply personal message shared after meeting Ojwang’s family at City Hall, Sakaja honoured the young man’s loyalty and influence in his political journey. “Today, I received the family of the late Albert Ojwang at City Hall—a moment of shared grief and deep reflection,” Sakaja wrote. Ojwang, a 26-year-old digital strategist, was known for his unwavering online support of Sakaja’s campaigns and county projects. The governor described…