The Online Kenyan

The National Assembly's Committee on Education has commenced a thorough review of several proposed Bills to overhaul Kenya's education sector, aligning with recommendations from the Presidential Working Party on Education Reform. Parliament is also reviewing legislation to overhaul university and college funding following President William Ruto's directive to make public tertiary education free. Meanwhile, HELB has opened applications for its 2026/27 Jielimishe Loan, offering up to Ksh600,000 for salaried learners.

Kenyan Senators are opposing the planned tolling of the Rironi-Mau Summit Expressway, arguing it would impose unfair financial burdens on citizens. This comes as Nairobi's Outer Ring Road will experience a partial closure on Saturday, August 8, between 12 pm and 3 pm, to allow for the removal of an overhead gantry, affecting over 10 estates. A proposed law also seeks to create an independent agency, the Kenya Transportation Safety Board, to investigate transport accidents, potentially stripping this function from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA).

Kenya's Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Renson Ingonga, has issued a stern warning against politicians incitement, intolerance and criminal gangs, vowing to pursue further arrests to uphold peace and the rule of law. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) confirmed the arrest of Justin Kinyua Mwangi, a Kirinyaga-based blogger, for an alleged social media post containing hate speech and ethnic contempt. These actions mark an intensification of the government's crackdown on hate speech ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has stated he will not engage in coalition talks with political parties that lack a solidified political base in the Mount Kenya region. Gachagua proposed an opposition unity strategy, likening it to a "hyena coalition" to challenge President Ruto in 2027, while also advising other opposition leaders to concentrate on strengthening their own political entities. Peter Munya, Party of National Unity (PNU) leader, accused Gachagua of being a "bully" whose confrontational style is hindering opposition unity ahead of the 2027 General Election.

A legal storm is brewing over the proposed registration of the Linda Mwananchi Party after the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) agreed to review its earlier decision rejecting the name, sparking accusations of unfairness from the original applicant. A new political party named 'LINDA' has been registered, creating a potential conflict with the Linda Mwananchi movement as both vie for political identity ahead of the 2027 General Election.

President William Ruto's administration is facing criticism for frequent policy changes, described as "trial and error," leading to uncertainty. The administration is reportedly abandoning previously pitched policies and programs, some of which have incurred significant public spending. These abrupt policy reversals span multiple sectors including education and health. The pattern of inconsistent governance has raised concerns about the reliability of the administration's commitment to its stated priorities.

Former President Uhuru Kenyatta and Wiper Patriotic Front (WFP) leader Kalonzo Musyoka convened an emergency meeting to address internal conflicts within the 'United' Alternative Government. Kalonzo met with Uhuru separately to resolve turmoil in the opposition coalition. These meetings came as opposition fractures force the two leaders to address internal conflicts that threaten to destabilize their coalition ahead of the 2027 elections.

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has charged the CEOs of NCBA Bank, KCB Bank, and Co-operative Bank with failing to report suspected proceeds of crime linked to an alleged Sh363.3 million fraud. The three bank executives are expected to appear in court on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Kenyan telecommunications companies are facing increased pressure as complaints related to scam calls and texts have surged by 83 percent, reaching a one-year high. In a separate development, three Kenyan nationals are set to be extradited to the United States to face serious cybercrime charges, following court approval secured by the DPP.

The Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) has flagged 20 public entities, including Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) and four county governments, for failing to cooperate with mandatory procurement audits. Over 57 percent of government contracts awarded in the 2024/25 financial year did not disclose beneficial ownership information, highlighting significant transparency issues in Kenya's public procurement. The Director-General of the Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK), David Kemei, has identified cartels and unscrupulous businesspeople as the primary threat to Kenya's business environment.