The Online Kenyan

A leadership dispute is escalating within the Kenya National Union of Teachers as current Secretary General Collins Oyuu firmly rejects former union boss Wilson Sossion's attempt to reclaim the top position, stating the union is not a banana republic. The Higher Education Loans Board is simultaneously imposing new penalties on non-compliant employers and loan beneficiaries to recover over Ksh100 billion in outstanding debt. In a separate development, Trans-Nzoia Senator Allan Chesang is threatening legal action against Standard Group PLC for defamation following a report linking him to a fraudulent ambulance tender scheme at Harambee House.

The National Police Service is appealing to residents in Meru, Isiolo, Samburu, and Laikipia counties to share intelligence regarding a recent surge in banditry and related crimes that has resulted in deaths and stolen cattle. This plea comes ahead of a major security operation. In a related development, DCI officers in Meru shot dead a notorious gang leader during a fierce gun battle hours after Inspector General Kanja announced a major crackdown on criminals in bandit-prone counties. Separately, two journalists from Standard Group PLC and Mediamax Network Limited were assaulted while covering a UDA meeting in Cherangany, Trans Nzoia, with one requiring hospitalization.

Switzerland has suspended the export of war materiel to the United States due to its involvement in the ongoing conflict in the Middle East involving Iran and Israel. This comes as airlines operating in and out of Kenya are considering fare hikes due to a global jet fuel supply shock exacerbated by Middle East tensions, which is already straining the aviation transport system. Meanwhile, Kenya is highlighting Africa's increasing attractiveness as a global energy investment hub, emphasizing its strong performance in renewable energy and investor-friendly policies.

Kenya's opposition coalition has threatened to boycott the 2027 general election if significant reforms are not implemented at the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). Opposition leaders are demanding the IEBC discontinue the use of Smartmatic technology, citing concerns over electoral integrity. Separately, Opposition leaders urged President Ruto's administration to expedite the review and amendment of electoral laws ahead of 2027, expressing concerns that delays could jeopardize the integrity of future polls. Meanwhile, Members of Parliament and the IEBC are meeting in Mombasa from March 31 to April 3 to set new rules for the 2027 General Election, a pivotal contest where President William Ruto is seeking a second and final term.

An aircraft carrying 39 passengers veered off the runway while landing at Wilson Airport on Friday evening, with all individuals safely evacuated and no injuries reported. This incident occurs amid broader infrastructure scrutiny, as the High Court in Nairobi dismissed a petition alleging ethnic bias and unconstitutional board appointments at the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company Limited (KETRACO), finding legal flaws in the case. In a separate development, Kenya's government launched a 30 percent group incentive for cruise tourists to encourage visits to national parks, aiming to enhance the "cruise-to-park" experience and increase inland tourism. Meanwhile, Dr. Dorcas Kamuya of KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme continues championing ethics and community involvement in health research, representing ongoing institutional development in Kenya's research sector.

Kenyan farmers in key agricultural regions are facing a critical shortage of subsidized fertilizer, threatening to disrupt the current planting season, with concerns mounting as an expected supply has not materialized. Farmers in Uasin Gishu, Trans Nzoia, and Elgeyo Marakwet counties are facing a severe shortage of subsidized fertilizer, raising fears of a disrupted planting season. A family dispute over fertilizer has tragically ended in violence and death in Kenya.

Kenya's opposition coalition has threatened to boycott the 2027 general election if significant reforms are not implemented at the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). Opposition leaders are demanding that the IEBC discontinue the use of Smartmatic technology in the upcoming general election. They are also urging President Ruto's administration to expedite the review and amendment of electoral laws ahead of the 2027 general election, expressing concerns that delays could jeopardize the integrity of future polls.

President William Ruto announced that Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni joined him to witness the ongoing construction of the Kisumu-Malaba Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), marking a significant moment for regional integration. President Museveni officiated the groundbreaking for the Kisumu-Mabala SGR, emphasizing its role in modernizing Uganda's transport system and describing it as part of the rationalization of their transport network. President Ruto declared that Kenya is undergoing a significant transformation driven by accelerated infrastructure development, including ongoing railway projects and the upcoming Mau Summit-Rironi road construction. Suna East MP Junet Mohamed announced that the SGR has finally reached Kisumu, fulfilling the vision of the late Raila Odinga. President Ruto highlighted the SGR's significant achievements, reporting it has transported more than 15 million passengers and over 45 million tonnes of freight over the past eight years.