Suba Council of Elders in Migori led by their Chairperson, Mzee Japheth Riogi Riogi, has called on chiefs and other leaders to conduct sensitisation campaigns to enlighten youth on the importance of acquiring National Identification Cards (ID) and voter registration. Speaking over the weekend at a local hotel where they received New Year gifts from the Migori County administration, the elders urged young people to prepare adequately and actively participate in electoral process by voting for leaders of integrity. Riogi called upon Gen Z’s to maintain the unity and togetherness they showed during the Finance Bill protests in June 2024 and lobby support online for all youth to acquire IDs and register as voters. The Suba Elders Chairperson also disclosed that they will continue supporting the government of the day, both at the county and the national level, to ensure political pledges are fulfilled.
Football legends have called on the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) to support grassroots tournaments saying they produce the country’s most-celebrated sportsmen and women. Speaking during the Steve Arika Football Tournament at Nyandusi Stadium in Ibeno ward, Kisii County, legendary Kenyan goalkeeper Francis Onyiso lauded the organizers of the tournament for inviting former national team players to inspire the upcoming young talent. “We have watched a very entertaining final and hope that through this initiative, we will get very good players who can compete at the national league levels,” Onyiso noted. Former Harambee Stars Captain, Musa Otieno, urged the Federation to equip the Coaches at the grassroots with essential tactical mastery and team leadership skills. Otieno also called for the development of standard football pitches in Counties for such tournaments to continue nurturing upcoming talent. He encouraged the teams at the national league to leverage on the grassroots tournaments to scout for players for their teams.
Central Region
Parents and education stakeholders have welcomed the release of Sh44.1 billion in capitation funds by government for the first term of the 2026 academic year. While appreciating the timely move, the stakeholders also called for sustained and adequate financing to support the full implementation of the Competency-Based Education (CBE) system. Speaking at Ihura Grounds in Murang’a County during the Murang’a County Education Day celebrations held under the Inua Masomo Programme, stakeholders said the timely release of funds is critical in ensuring uninterrupted learning and quality education delivery. They urged the government to continue prioritising education by allocating sufficient resources to support the ongoing rollout of the CBE system, noting that the new curriculum is resource-intensive and requires adequate infrastructure, learning materials, and trained teachers. Parents attending the event praised the Inua Masomo Programme, saying it has significantly reduced the financial burden of transitioning students to Senior Secondary School.
Murang’a County has awarded bursaries to top-performing students from public day secondary schools across the County in preparation for the start of the 2026 academic year. Speaking at Ihura Stadium in Murang’a town, Governor Irungu Kang’ata said the County government remains committed to supporting bright students in day schools in order to promote healthy competition and improved academic performance. Under the programme, the County issued bursaries to top 10 students in every class in every public day secondary school. “Education is the greatest equalizer. That is why we are giving an opportunity to bright and needy students in day schools,” the governor said. Governor Kang’ata underscored the importance of education in driving societal progress, noting that it plays a critical role in shaping the future of the County.
Learners in Juja Constituency, Kiambu County Monday reported to school to a vastly improved learning environment after several public primary schools underwent major refurbishment during the Christmas holiday period. Pupils at Gachoro, Mugutha and Thome Primary Schools walked into renovated classrooms fitted with new roofs, tiled floors and improved sanitation facilities, a sharp departure from the previously dilapidated structures that had for years hampered effective learning. The school compounds had also been paved with cabro blocks, significantly improving cleanliness, safety and accessibility, especially during rainy weather when muddy conditions often disrupted lessons. Speaking during a tour of the schools, Juja Legislator George Koimburi said the renovations were undertaken to address years of neglect that had left many classrooms in poor condition. He noted that the new infrastructure is already boosting morale among learners and teachers.
Residents of Mweiga town in Nyeri County have asked the County government to station a fire engine in town to ensure faster response during fire emergencies. This is after a family was left counting losses after a fire razed down their home on Sunday while they were attending a church service. The afternoon blaze is suspected to have been caused by an electric fault that triggered a gas explosion. It destroyed the entire house, the family’s household items including a motorbike valued at hundreds of thousands of shillings. The residents believe that the fire could have been contained and property saved had there been a fire engine nearby. They said that they had to wait for firefighters to be dispatched from Nyeri town, which took about 20 minutes to arrive, causing an unnecessary delay.
Farmers in Murang’a County are increasingly turning to fruit farming, saying it offers higher yields and better returns compared to traditional tea and coffee farming that has long dominated the region. Across various parts of the County, fruit farming is emerging as a profitable alternative, with farmers reporting improved incomes and more stable returns. The farmers say the shift is driven by rising market demand for fruits and the need to diversify income sources amid fluctuating earnings from tea and coffee. They are now calling for the formation of cooperative groups to help them access affordable farm inputs, receive technical support, and collectively penetrate larger markets. In Kamune, Mathioya Constituency, farmers have embraced the cultivation of fruits such as tamarillo and passion fruit, locally known as karakara alongside avocados, mangoes and macadamia.
Rift Valley Region
President William Ruto has underscored that collaboration between security agencies and residents has brought peace to Kerio Valley, a region that has been ravaged by banditry and cattle rustling for more than 30 years. President Ruto noted that consistency, planning and strategy have helped restore peace along the Kerio Valley, adding that the region will now be open for development, trade and investment. “I am happy that in Kerio Valley today, we are listening to testimonies of peace. I want to thank our security officers, our church leaders and other partners for the efforts that have led to the restoration of peace here,” he said. “I want to assure our security officers of my support as they undertake their responsibility,” the President added. He pointed out that the region is now being opened up for development, trade and investment, and urged residents and Kenyans at large to be ready to buy Kenya Pipeline Company shares at the Nairobi Securities Exchange in the next few months.
Nine people, including two minors, died in a tragic road accident involving a long-distance bus and a Nissan matatu along the Nairobi–Nakuru highway. The crash occurred at about 2am Monday in the Kayole area, around 10 kilometres from Naivasha town, leaving several other passengers seriously injured as the country continues to grapple with a rise in fatal road accidents. Initial reports indicate that a Greenline bus travelling from Western Kenya towards Nairobi collided head-on with a Nissan matatu heading to Nakuru. Six occupants of the matatu lost their lives on the spot. Three more victims, including two children, were pronounced dead on arrival at Naivasha Sub-county Hospital, where the injured were rushed for emergency medical care. Eyewitnesses recounted dramatic moments leading up to the crash with Duncan Kirui, a passenger noting that the bus driver attempted to overtake several vehicles at high speed before the collision. He alleged that the driver appeared fatigued, having driven for long hours before commencing another journey, and attributed the crash to exhaustion and dangerous overtaking. Emergency response teams comprising Police Officers, Kenya Red Cross personnel and County disaster units worked through the wee hours to rescue survivors trapped in the wreckage and clear the highway.
Mau Mau veterans under the Mau Mau Original Trust are now calling on the political class to tone down the current political tension fearing it is likely to fuel hostility amongst Kenyans. Speaking in Narok during their annual general meeting, the elders led by deputy chairman Daniel Kamau, called on politicians to respect the Office of the President despite their political differences. “We are calling on the youth and the political class to respect the current office holders right from the President, down to Assistant Chiefs. That is the only way we can contain the political tension,” said Kamau. He urged Gen Zs to use the right channel while airing out their grievances. Additionally, a member of the Mau Mau Original Trust, Stephen Wainaina appealed to the government to provide adequate security to their offices which have become a target following a recent incident where they were invaded by unknown people. The Mau Mau fighters also want government to fast track the compensation process to ensure they benefit from atrocities committed by British Colonialists.
A delegation drawn from the County Executive Committee Members (CECMs) Caucus on Sports and Culture and representatives of the Kenya Inter-County Sports and Cultural Association (KICOSCA) tournament on Monday held a consultative meeting with West Pokot Governor Simon Kachapin at his official residence in Kapenguria to deliberate on the future of the KICOSCA tournament. The meeting with Kachapin, who is also the Council of Governors Chair for Gender, Youth, Sports, Culture and Social Services Committee largely focused on governance matters surrounding the tournament, including ongoing plans for future tournaments and the need to strengthen institutional frameworks to safeguard its credibility and sustainability. The Governor underscored the significance of the KICOSCA tournament as a unifying platform that promotes peace, cohesion, and shared prosperity among Counties. He emphasized that the tournament has grown into a critical inter-county initiative and called on officials to uphold high standards of integrity and accountability to ensure it continues to serve its intended purpose.
Coastal Region
Harrison Nyamu, who was abducted from his home in Sisi kwa Sisi area, Soweto, Changamwe Sub-county on December 24, 2025, has been found alive after nine days in captivity. The 44-year-old was released on January 2 at around 11pm in Vipingo area, Kilifi County, from where he made his way back home to his family in Mombasa. Speaking to Journalists at his home, Nyamu recounted the traumatic experience, saying armed men with covered faces stormed his house on December 24 at around 8pm, forced everyone to the ground including his family, handcuffed him, and took him away blindfolded. “I was taken to an unknown location where I went through a lot of hardship and torture. I wouldn’t want anyone else to go through what I have gone through,” Nyamu said thanking God for returning home safely to his family. Human Rights Activists have strongly condemned the incident, terming it unlawful and a gross violation of human rights. Speaking at Nyamu’s home in Changamwe, Vocal Africa Chief Executive Officer Hussein Khalid said Nyamu is a kidney patient who missed his medication and dialysis sessions during his nine-day detention.
Western Region
Athletes from Teso community have been urged to prioritize education alongside athletics in order to secure international athletics scholarship opportunities. Speaking during the Elalai Cross Country Championship in Teso North, Elalai Training Camp Coach Charles Kamau said athletes from the community are missing out on prestigious life changing scholarships for failure to meet the required academic standards. He said that despite succeeding in the track during the Elalai Cross Country Championship held on December 26, 2025 they failed to secure four international scholarships to study and further their talent at Kingstone College and Jamaica University. To acquire the scholarship, an athlete was required to have attained a minimum of Grade C plain in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary School Education (KCSE). Kamau noted that the community had been allocated four slots in the international athletics scholarships where one slot was for a girl and three for boys. As a result, he said they are now shifting focus to schools in the community to identify learners who might be able to fill the slots and are best in middle and long distance running.
Eastern Region
Parents have been warned against compelling their children to pursue the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) pathway under the Competency-Based Education (CBE) system, with education stakeholders cautioning that such pressure could lead to future frustrations. Speaking to Kenya News Agency (KNA), Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Meru South Executive Secretary Njeru Mutani emphasized that learners should be guided by their interests and abilities when selecting academic pathways. “Parents should not force their children to venture into pathways they are not capable of or interested in. STEM involves pure sciences and mathematics, and any child who is not strong in these subjects may struggle and become frustrated in the future,” said Mr Mutani. He noted that under the CBE framework, learners are placed into one of the three pathways: STEM, Social Sciences, or Arts and Sports, based on their preferences indicated before the Kenya Junior Secondary Education Assessment (KJSEA). While the school placement may change, he added, the chosen pathway remains fixed. Mr Mutani expressed concern that many parents are pushing their children towards STEM due to its perceived prestige, without considering the learner’s strengths, reiterating that the CBE system was introduced to promote specialization and align education with individual talents and career aspirations.
North Eastern Region
Baitulmal Kenya has donated medical equipment and supported specialised training for health workers at Wajir County Referral Hospital to strengthen maternal and newborn care services. The support, delivered in partnership with the Gates Foundation and Every Pregnancy, includes five delivery beds fitted with safety rails, five baby cots, an electric suction machine and a high-powered LED examination light. The intervention targets gaps in emergency response and safe delivery at the County’s main referral facility. Speaking during the handover ceremony, Baitulmal Kenya Communications Officer Issadin Hajji said the donation addressed critical gaps in maternal health care. He added that Baitulmal Kenya also conducted a five-day clinical training for Nurses, focusing on emergency response and safe delivery practices to improve maternal and neonatal outcomes.
Kenya News Agency (KNA),
National Editorial Desk,
Uchumi House, Nairobi.