The Online Kenyan

Officials from the Kenyan Ministry of Sports are under investigation by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission concerning an alleged illegal kickback scheme totaling Sh746 million related to an air travel tender. The investigation comes amid broader scrutiny of government expenditure, with separate data revealing the Kenyan government significantly increased its travel expenditure in Financial Year 2025/26, spending an additional Sh5.2 billion compared to the previous year, bringing total travel spending to Sh30.60 billion.

Kenyan President William Ruto has issued a 90-day ultimatum to foreign nationals operating businesses in Kenya to regularize their immigration status, work permits, business registration, and licensing. The directives, issued during roadside visits, target foreign small business owners and have sparked significant debate about the government's motivations. However, diplomatic observers and analysts warn that these policies risk damaging Kenya's reputation as an investment destination and could turn the country into a pariah state in the international community. The policy shift represents a controversial approach to regulating foreign traders, with concerns raised about potential negative impacts on Kenya's diplomatic relationships.

President William Ruto has ordered the Controller of Budget and the Auditor-General to speed up the verification of outstanding county bills. The President stated that the success of devolution in Kenya is jeopardized when functions are transferred to counties without corresponding financial resources. This comes as leaders from Western Kenya have presented significant demands to President Ruto in exchange for their support in the August 2027 General Elections, highlighting ongoing negotiations between the national government and regional leaders over resource allocation and political support.

The number of Burundian citizens flocking to their embassy in Nairobi continues to rise, with many spending nights as they await travel documents to return home. This situation has entered its second day, with scores of nationals camping outside the embassy seeking assistance. Meanwhile, in Mombasa, a group of Burundian nationals has taken refuge at a church in Likoni after allegedly facing threats of eviction from local residents. The coordinated presence of Burundian nationals in both Nairobi and Mombasa highlights a broader situation of foreign nationals seeking to leave Kenya.

The number of Burundian citizens flocking to their embassy in Nairobi continues to rise, with many spending the night as they await travel documents to return home. This comes as scores of Burundian nationals have now camped outside their embassy for two consecutive days seeking travel documents. In a related development, a group of Burundian nationals has found refuge at a church in Likoni, Mombasa, after allegedly facing threats of eviction from locals.

Kenya is implementing stricter regulations for cryptocurrencies, introducing new risks for banks under the recently enacted Digital Asset Law, aiming to bring greater oversight to the rapidly evolving digital asset landscape. This regulatory move coincides with Equity Bank Group launching a significant climate finance initiative, pledging over 12.5 billion shillings to support farmers and rural businesses across East Africa. Meanwhile, Britam Holdings has successfully cleared its accumulated losses, marking a significant financial milestone that will allow for the resumption of dividend payments after a six-year hiatus.

Kenyan world champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi will represent Kenya at the inaugural Ultimate Championships in Budapest, Hungary, starting Friday. Kenya has also announced a strong team to compete at the All Africa Golf Team Championship in Hammamet, Tunisia next month. Meanwhile, China's teenage basketball sensation Zhang Ziyu, standing at 223cm (7ft 4in), has drawn comparisons to NBA legends and earned praise from stars like Caitlin Clark.

Huawei has announced that over 5 million devices were upgraded to its new operating system, HarmonyOS 7, within the first 24 hours of its public beta release on September 7, demonstrating strong user adoption. Meanwhile, China has officially included the commercial launch of 6G services in its 2026-2030 telecommunications development plan, signaling a significant push for the next generation of mobile technology. In a separate development, an investigation by Gamers Nexus revealed extensive data collection by LG smart televisions, including network scanning and potential audio capture even when the screen is off, raising privacy concerns about smart device data practices.