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EACC Puts Counties on Notice as Conflict of Interest Act, 2025 Takes Effect

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission has put county governments across Kenya on notice, calling on them to overhaul their accountability structures and fully implement the Conflict of Interest Act, 2025, which has now come into force. The commission cautioned that devolved units continue to haemorrhage public funds largely because of weak internal oversight frameworks.

The message was delivered during a capacity-building forum held in Kisumu, targeting members of the Bungoma County Assembly Service Board and the Committee on Powers and Privileges. Representing EACC Chief Executive Officer Abdi A. Mohamud at the event, the commission’s Western Regional Manager Eric Ngumbi told delegates that the new law introduces significantly tougher protections against abuse of office, anchored on stricter wealth declaration requirements and more robust enforcement mechanisms.

In a statement read out during the forum, Mohamud underscored that the law’s success would ultimately depend on the willingness of public officers to genuinely embrace integrity. “By strengthening wealth declarations, tightening procurement integrity, and ensuring accountability of both MCAs and county executives, county governments can better safeguard public funds and advance genuine devolution,” he said.

The anti-graft agency identified procurement and staff recruitment as the areas most susceptible to conflict of interest in county governments. Investigations have exposed cases where Members of County Assemblies channel tenders to proxy firms they are secretly connected to, leading to inflated contracts, stalled projects, poor workmanship, and billions of shillings in taxpayer losses. “Public accountability is at greatest risk when those responsible for oversight engage in the same corrupt conduct they are required to guard against,” Mohamud warned.

The Conflict of Interest Act arrives more than a decade after the introduction of devolution under Kenya’s 2010 Constitution, amid sustained public frustration over the misuse of county resources. Oversight bodies have repeatedly flagged procurement irregularities, ghost projects, and nepotism as entrenched problems undermining service delivery in counties nationwide.

Bungoma County Assembly Speaker Emmanuel Situma urged MCAs to embrace the new legislation as a tool for rebuilding public trust rather than viewing it as a punitive measure aimed at them. He cautioned that when county assemblies become extensions of the governor’s office, the risk of unchecked contracts and misappropriation of public money rises sharply.

Separately, the EACC sounded the alarm over a growing wave of forged academic certificates emerging ahead of the next General Election. The commission called on universities, colleges, and national examination bodies to tighten certificate verification processes and shut down loopholes that allow individuals with fraudulent qualifications to contest public office.

Politics

Kalonzo: System shields killers as police watchdog buries evidence on Gen Z deaths

Wiper Patriotic Front leader Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka has levelled stinging accusations against the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), alleging that the police watchdog systematically undermined the pursuit of justice for Kenyans killed during the 2024 Gen Z protests. Speaking on the second anniversary of the June 25 uprising, he said the authority’s conduct amounted to complicity in the deaths of innocent Kenyans.

Central to Kalonzo’s condemnation is the case of Rex Masai, a 29-year-old man shot dead on June 15, 2024. The opposition leader disclosed that IPOA itself conceded in court a catalogue of critical investigative failures related to Masai’s death — admissions that raise serious questions about whether the authority has the will, or even the mandate, to deliver genuine accountability.

The shortcomings Kalonzo detailed are striking in their scope. According to him, IPOA failed to recover the bullet from Masai’s body, did not collect cartridge casings from the scene, neglected to secure surveillance footage that may have captured the shooting, made no effort to retrieve the alleged murder weapon, and failed to put in place adequate protection for key witnesses in the case.

“The officer charged in the case may ultimately walk free, not because he has been innocent, but because evidence required to secure justice was never gathered,” Kalonzo stated. The Wiper leader went further, framing these failures not as isolated incompetence but as proof of a deliberately constructed system that shields uniformed perpetrators from accountability, leaving grieving families with nothing but silence.

Beyond the Masai case, Kalonzo issued a broad demand for the government to account for every life taken during the protests and called on security forces to exercise maximum restraint during the June 25 anniversary commemorations. He further demanded a formal, public apology from the presidency and insisted on tangible financial compensation for every affected family.

The opposition leader also turned his attention to Parliament, criticising the revelation that 186 Members of Parliament were absent during the vote on the contentious Finance Bill — a mass no-show that he said exposes the depth of impunity entrenched within Kenya’s legislative institutions.

Concluding his statement, Kalonzo renewed his longstanding push for June 25 to be officially declared a national public holiday under the name “Liberation Day,” arguing that the sacrifice made by young Kenyans on that day in 2024 deserves a permanent, honoured place on the national calendar.

Politics

Suba South MP Caroli Omondi Ejected from National Assembly Over Unparliamentary Outburst

Suba South Member of Parliament Caroli Omondi found himself on the wrong side of the Speaker’s gavel on Thursday after his conduct during a House session crossed the line of acceptable parliamentary behaviour. The legislator was handed a suspension of a minimum of five parliamentary sitting days after Temporary Speaker Peter Kaluma found him guilty of gross disorderly conduct — a ruling that brought proceedings to a sharp halt and drew wide attention across the chamber.

The trouble began during debate on the Sovereign Wealth Fund Bill, a weighty piece of legislation that had already attracted vigorous discussion from lawmakers. Omondi raised a procedural concern over the lack of quorum in the House, but the session took a sharp turn when he allegedly directed a cutting remark at Temporary Speaker Kaluma — reportedly telling him to “stop being stupid.” The comment landed with immediate force, effectively derailing the debate in its tracks.

When directed to withdraw the remark, Omondi was having none of it. Rather than comply, he insisted he had been misrepresented, arguing that what he actually said was “We’re not stupid” — a phrase he claimed was aimed at the House in general rather than at the Speaker personally. To settle the matter, he called for the official Hansard record to be checked. It was a bold move that would ultimately turn against him.

The verification was conducted and the Hansard transcript confirmed that Omondi had indeed used the phrase attributed to him. With that finding on the table, Kaluma delivered his ruling without hesitation. “This being the first time I’m meting out this punishment, I will suspend you from the House for a period of a minimum five days,” the Temporary Speaker declared. He further noted that any member who refuses to retract unparliamentary language commits an act deserving of punishment under the National Assembly’s Standing Orders.

National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah weighed in before the final ruling was issued, firmly backing the Speaker’s position and urging that the Hansard record be verified before any decision was made. His intervention signalled that there was no appetite among the majority ranks to shield a colleague from the consequences of his own words, reinforcing a broad consensus that parliamentary decorum belongs to the whole House.

Thursday’s episode sends an unambiguous message to all members of Kenya’s National Assembly: the dignity of the House is not negotiable, and the Speaker’s authority to enforce it is fully intact. As lawmakers continue debating consequential legislation such as the Sovereign Wealth Fund Bill, Omondi’s suspension stands as a stark illustration that the rules of parliamentary conduct apply equally to everyone who walks through those doors.

Politics

Kenya’s Counties Set for Sh428 Billion Boost as MPs Pass Revenue Bill 2026

County governments across Kenya are set to receive Sh428 billion in equitable share revenue for the 2026/2027 financial year after the National Assembly passed the County Allocation of Revenue Bill, 2026. The bill cleared the chamber without a single amendment, providing the legal framework needed to distribute nationally collected revenue to all 47 devolved units in line with constitutional requirements.

This year’s allocation marks a notable improvement over last year’s figures — counties received Sh415 billion in the 2025/2026 financial year, meaning the new bill adds Sh13 billion to the national devolution kitty. The increase comes at a time when county administrations are under intense pressure to deliver more services to growing populations while managing limited alternative revenue streams beyond the equitable share.

The Sh428 billion has been structured across three distinct funding channels. The largest portion — Sh387.43 billion — forms the baseline allocation, covering counties’ day-to-day recurrent expenditure as well as long-term development programmes. A dedicated Sh4.46 billion has been ring-fenced as affirmative action funding for 12 historically marginalized counties, a deliberate intervention to close regional development gaps that have persisted for decades. The remaining Sh36.1 billion will be distributed through a weighted formula that accounts for each county’s population size, poverty levels, income distance, and total geographical area.

The bill’s clean passage was confirmed by Alego Usonga MP Samuel Atandi, who chairs the committee that scrutinised the legislation before it came to the floor. “The committee do report to the House the consideration of the County Allocation of Revenue Bill…and its approval thereof without amendments,” Atandi told the House. The committee’s unanimous endorsement signals broad political consensus around the proposed allocation structure.

Beyond the figures, lawmakers were emphatic about what the additional funding should deliver for ordinary Kenyans at the county level. Key priorities identified during debate include expanding healthcare services, rehabilitating road networks, widening access to clean water, boosting agricultural support programmes, and strengthening early childhood education — all sectors where counties have struggled to match growing demand with available resources.

The approval also responds to mounting concern from county governors, who have consistently warned that rising operational costs and surging public service demands are stretching their budgets to a breaking point. With Sh13 billion more at their disposal in the coming financial year, counties now have greater fiscal room to sustain essential programmes and address service delivery shortfalls without resorting to painful spending cuts that directly affect residents.

Politics

Mwangi warns Gen Z protest grievances still simmering as Kenya marks two-year anniversary

Human rights activist and presidential hopeful Boniface Mwangi has issued a stark warning: the fury that drove Generation Z onto Kenya’s streets two years ago has not gone anywhere. Speaking on Spice FM on June 26, 2026, Mwangi argued that the root causes of the 2024 protests — a punishing cost of living, poor governance, runaway corruption, and deep economic hardship — remain as raw today as they were when young Kenyans first flooded the streets.

The government’s handling of the June 25 anniversary demonstrations, he said, betrayed its own unease about the public mood. Despite officially treating the day as an ordinary working day, authorities deployed heavy police contingents, erected traffic barricades, and imposed movement restrictions in various areas. For Mwangi, those measures spoke louder than any official statement — proof that those in power know very well that the anger, in his own words, “is still there.”

Beyond the security clampdown, Mwangi noted that ordinary Kenyans have quietly designated June 25 as an unofficial day of remembrance for those who lost their lives during the 2024 anti-Finance Bill demonstrations. He reserved sharp criticism for a political class he accused of remaining thoroughly disconnected from the everyday struggles of citizens while continuing to enjoy the full benefits of public office.

Mwangi also moved to put to rest longstanding claims that his activism is financially motivated. Pointing to more than two decades of human rights work, he rejected the accusation outright, insisting that money has never been the driver behind his campaigns. He urged Kenyans not to let legitimate frustration tip over into violence, calling instead for that energy to be channelled into deliberate political engagement.

Looking ahead to next year’s general election, the activist identified ethnic divisions as one of the gravest obstacles standing in the way of meaningful reform. He cautioned that unless Kenyans actively resist being pulled apart along tribal lines, the hard-won momentum generated by the protest movement risks being thrown away at the ballot box.

On the commemoration itself, Mwangi delivered a measured but critical assessment. While conceding that the anniversary events achieved some degree of success, he condemned police conduct during the demonstrations and described the arrest of 355 protesters as a straightforward violation of constitutional rights.

Most damning of all, he called out the government’s failure to honour promises of compensation made to victims of the 2024 crackdown. Two years on, those pledges remain unfulfilled — and for Mwangi, that broken commitment encapsulates the broader failure of leadership that first pushed young Kenyans onto the streets and continues to simmer beneath the surface today.

Politics

Opposition’s Unity Promise Unravels as Rival Strategies Emerge Ahead of 2027

The opposition’s much-publicised pledge to field a single candidate against President William Ruto in the 2027 general election is coming apart at the seams. Events surrounding the recent anniversary commemorations of the Gen Z protest movement have stripped away the veneer of coalition unity, revealing an alliance under strain and leaders who appear to be charting their own paths rather than a shared one.

The Gen Z demonstrations, which shook the country and drew a bloody response from security forces — with several protesters losing their lives at the hands of police — remain a raw wound in Kenya’s political consciousness. As the nation marked the anniversary of those events, opposition figures were called upon to stand with the movement that many had aligned themselves with during the height of the unrest. It was at this politically charged moment that the cracks within the coalition became impossible to conceal.

At the heart of the divisions were starkly conflicting directives from opposition leaders over whether their followers should join street protests marking the anniversary. Rather than speak with one voice, senior figures in the coalition issued guidance that pointed in different directions, leaving supporters confused and exposing, in plain sight, just how disconnected the alliance’s internal communications have become. What was meant to be a moment of shared solidarity instead became a stage for public contradiction.

Political observers have described the fallout as evidence of deep divisions within a coalition that has repeatedly promised to present a unified challenge to the Ruto administration. The visible disagreements have rattled those who believed the opposition was capable of coordinating effectively, and have raised fresh doubts about whether the promise of a single 2027 presidential ticket is anything more than a talking point.

Beneath the surface of coalition declarations, rival strategies are clearly taking shape. Each major figure within the opposition appears to be hedging their position and calculating their own electoral approach, prioritising personal ambition over the collective cause. The Gen Z protest anniversary served not as a rallying point for opposition unity but as a flashpoint that exposed the fragility of bonds that many had assumed were stronger than they turned out to be.

For Kenyans who had placed hope in a strong and coordinated alternative to the current government, these developments are difficult to ignore. The opposition’s credibility as a united bloc has taken a hit at a time when it can ill afford it. With 2027 still some way off, there is a window to repair the damage — but the divergences that have now surfaced publicly will not be easily smoothed over, and voters will be watching every move carefully from here.

Politics

Sakaja Asks Senate to Help Nairobi Unlock Sh63 Billion Revenue Target

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja took his case to the Senate County Public Accounts Committee, urging senators to strengthen laws that would give county governments the legal muscle to compel property owners to pay their land rates. The governor made the argument that Nairobi, with the right legislative backing, could more than quadruple its annual own-source revenue — from the current Sh13.8 billion to an ambitious Sh63 billion.

The governor pointed to progress already made under his administration as proof that the city is moving in the right direction. Nairobi’s revenue collection has nearly doubled over four years, climbing from Sh8 billion to Sh13.8 billion. Despite this improvement, Sakaja was candid that the gains are being undermined by a legal framework that leaves county governments with limited tools to pursue those who refuse to pay.

“Unless counties are properly facilitated by law to enforce collections, it will be impossible to realize our full revenue potential,” he told the committee. The governor stressed that without stronger enforcement mechanisms, the city’s financial targets will remain out of reach regardless of how efficient its internal collection systems become.

At the heart of the problem is a stubborn culture of non-compliance among property owners. Sakaja revealed that of Nairobi’s 256,000 registered property owners, only around 20 percent honour their land rate obligations consistently. That leaves more than 200,000 properties sitting on outstanding arrears — a massive pool of uncollected revenue bleeding the county dry. He raised further eyebrows by noting that several of the worst offenders are individuals in positions of influence, a sharp contrast to ordinary Nairobians who dutifully meet their obligations.

Sakaja also used his Senate appearance to defend the county’s Nairobi Pay digital revenue collection platform, which he credited with bringing greater transparency and plugging the inefficiencies that had long plagued manual collection systems. The platform has gained traction beyond Nairobi’s borders — Nyandarua County is among those that have since adopted it as a model for their own revenue efforts.

The Senate committee did not issue immediate recommendations after hearing the submission. Instead, it directed Nairobi County to furnish additional documentation within 14 days, demonstrating the practical effectiveness of the Nairobi Pay platform before the committee moves forward with any formal guidance.

With Nairobi driving a substantial share of Kenya’s urban economic activity, the outcome of these legislative discussions carries real weight. Should the legal reforms Sakaja is pushing for gain Senate backing, the capital could tap into a revenue stream large enough to meaningfully transform service delivery for millions of residents spread across its 17 sub-counties.

Politics

State rolls out projects in Ol Kalou as by-election countdown enters final stretch

With the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election now less than a month away, the government has shifted into high gear, rolling out a series of development projects and empowerment programmes targeting residents of the constituency. The flurry of activity has drawn both praise from government quarters and sharp criticism from the opposition, setting the stage for a politically charged run-up to the poll.

Among the headline initiatives is the launch of the Nyandarua University construction at Kapten in Ol Kalou, a project that signals a major infrastructure boost for the wider Nyandarua County. Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome and Nyandarua Woman Representative Faith Gitau were present at the launch, lending the event considerable political weight and visibility.

Government officials have been quick to push back against suggestions that the timing is politically motivated. Their position is that the projects are a direct response to long-standing community needs that had been identified and scheduled through normal government channels, and that the proximity to the by-election is coincidental rather than calculated.

Opposition figures are not buying that explanation. They argue that the ruling administration is deliberately deploying state resources to win favour in a constituency where the political mood has grown increasingly hostile towards President William Ruto’s government. In their view, the timing amounts to the use of public funds for partisan advantage — a practice that undermines free and fair competition ahead of the by-election.

The opposition’s concerns are not without context. Ol Kalou residents have in recent times demonstrated visible frustration with the direction of government policy, making the constituency something of a political flashpoint. Both sides are well aware that the outcome will be closely read as a referendum on the administration’s popularity in the region, raising the stakes considerably for all parties involved.

As the campaign period progresses, the central question hanging over Ol Kalou is whether the projects will translate into votes for the ruling side or whether residents will treat them as too little, too late. Opposition leaders are betting on the latter, while the government is hoping a visible development record will give its candidate a decisive edge.

With voting day approaching fast, Ol Kalou has become one of the most watched political arenas in the country — a constituency where the contest between state resources and voter sentiment will play out in full public view.

Politics

Wetangula Under Fire for Backing Nakhumicha in Trans Nzoia Gubernatorial Race

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula has found himself at the centre of a political storm after appearing to throw his weight behind former Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha as Kenya Kwanza’s preferred candidate for the Trans Nzoia gubernatorial contest in 2027. The move has ignited a fierce internal debate within the ruling coalition, with some members accusing the Speaker of playing favourites ahead of next year’s elections.

The endorsement has not gone down well with UDA aspirants eyeing the same seat. Kakai Bisau and Chris Wamalwa — both vying for the UDA ticket in Trans Nzoia — have come out strongly against what they see as preferential treatment by the influential Speaker, accusing him of undermining fair competition within the coalition.

Bisau was blunt in his criticism, calling for the coalition to field candidates through open and competitive nominations. He argued that Trans Nzoia needs “brave and seasoned warriors” and insisted that all hopefuls deserve a level playing field, especially if Kenya Kwanza is to mount a credible challenge against incumbent Governor George Natembeya come 2027.

Wamalwa, who recently crossed the floor from Ford Kenya to UDA, echoed similar concerns. He insisted that the residents of Trans Nzoia — not party bigwigs — should have the final say on who leads their county. His remarks point to a growing unease within the coalition over top-down candidate selection ahead of next year’s election cycle.

Wetangula, however, was quick to distance himself from the accusations. The Speaker clarified that Nakhumicha had simply expressed her interest in the seat under the Ford Kenya banner, and that he had not handpicked her over anyone else. He extended an open invitation to other aspirants to join Ford Kenya, participate in its party nominations, and earn the ticket on merit — adding that he would back whoever emerges victorious from that process.

Endebess MP Robert Pukose sought to project a united front despite the internal wrangling, reaffirming Kenya Kwanza’s collective resolve to wrest the Trans Nzoia governorship from the current administration before the 2027 polls.

The row over Nakhumicha’s candidacy lays bare simmering tensions within the ruling coalition over how key seats will be decided ahead of 2027. As political heavyweights jostle for influence in Western Kenya, the question of whether nominations will be genuinely competitive or engineered from above looks set to remain a flashpoint in the months to come.

Politics

UDA Pledges Free and Fair Nominations Ahead of 2027 General Election

Kenya’s ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party has given fresh assurances that aspirants eyeing elective seats in the 2027 general election will enjoy a level playing field during the party’s internal nomination exercise. The pledge signals a deliberate move by the party to address longstanding concerns over the integrity of party primaries, ahead of what is shaping up to be a fiercely contested election cycle.

The assurance came during a consultative forum held in Machakos County, specifically convened for members of the Kamba community with political ambitions for 2027. The gathering drew in over 60 participants eyeing various elective positions — spanning parliamentary to county-level seats — underlining the growing appetite for political participation within the region as the 2027 race begins to take shape.

Speaking at the forum, Mary Mutinga, a member of UDA’s elections commission board, disclosed that the party is actively in the process of procuring electronic equipment to be deployed during the primaries to guarantee greater transparency and accountability. Her announcement suggests UDA is determined to steer clear of the chaos and allegations of rigging that have tarnished party nominations in previous election cycles across Kenya.

The deployment of technology in party nominations has increasingly become a pressing demand among aspirants and ordinary voters alike, with many calling for systems that limit human interference and reduce opportunities for ballot manipulation. Should UDA follow through on its commitment to electronic-assisted primaries, the move could set a useful benchmark for how other political outfits structure their own internal elections ahead of 2027.

The Machakos forum was held under the stewardship of Patrick Musili Mbangula, and those in attendance left with a clear, united position — unwavering support for President William Ruto’s bid to secure a second term in State House. The solidarity shown by Kamba community members reflects sustained efforts by UDA to consolidate its support base in a region that has historically served as a competitive battleground for multiple political formations.

With the 2027 general election still on the horizon, political parties are now scrambling to put their internal structures in order. For UDA, ensuring that its nominations are widely seen as credible and impartial will be critical — not only for keeping aspirants loyal to the party tent, but also for managing the expectations of millions of Kenyans who will be watching the political season unfold with keen interest.

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