A tragic head-on collision near Gilgil on the Nakuru-Nairobi highway claimed 13 lives, causing major traffic disruptions. Meanwhile, counties are grappling with financial challenges as Senators demand delayed disbursements and governors warn of salary delays due to e-procurement system glitches. In the High Court, the Kamuthe Wildlife Conservancy's 76,000-acre title deed was nullified, and body detentions over unpaid hospital bills were ruled illegal. The IEBC has begun voter registration with new measures, KDF announced an October recruitment drive, and KWS will implement new park fees from October following the poisoning of six lions in the Maasai Mara.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has launched a nationwide continuous voter registration exercise, which began on Monday, September 29. This drive is intended to streamline the process for the upcoming November 27 by-elections and the August 2027 General Elections. The IEBC has a goal of increasing Kenya's voter roll to 28.5 million by 2027 and is introducing significant changes, including eye scanning. In a related political development weeks before the mini polls, Magarini parliamentary aspirant Furaha Chengo has resigned from Rigathi Gachagua's Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP). Chengo cited systemic inefficiencies, a collapse in leadership, and a lack of support from party officials as reasons for the move.
CBK proposes cutting mobile money fees by 130% by 2028, lowering costs for Kenyans. They also reopened two bonds to raise 50 billion Kenyan Shillings for the FY25/26 budget as the NSE secondary bond market hit a record 2 trillion Kenyan Shillings turnover. Unga Group returned to profit, and DTB opened its 90th branch.
Zubeidah Kananu exits Standard Media after 18 years. Akothee defends Azziad Nasenya over auction rumors, while Kate Actress is praised for co-parenting with Phil Karanja. Terence Creative credits Milly Chebby for helping overcome addiction. Mogadishu City FC apologizes for disrespecting the Kenyan flag.
Kindiki urges counties to align priorities as governors decry e-procurement delays impacting services. Gachagua accuses Ruto of land grabbing and alleges MPs shortchange citizens at State House, vowing to revoke titles if elected. Kioni criticizes both government and opposition for petty politics. IEBC plans a 7 billion shillings voter registration drive.
A peddler of banned doping substances received a 3-year jail term and 1 million shillings fine, sparking criticism for its leniency. Meanwhile, the Rising Starlets face Ethiopia in a crucial World Cup qualifier today. Kenya Police and Nairobi United are through to the next round of CAF competitions, while Gor Mahia secured a league win.
Starlink's satellite launches fueled a 115% growth in Kenya's internet market, driven by new subscriptions. Tala is expanding to five new countries with new loan tech, aiming for profitability by 2026. Apple is developing a ChatGPT-style app, 'Veritas', for Siri. Google Messages is rolling out @mentions and new link previews. TECNO released a software update for many phones, while Kenyan Galaxy A55 users face delays for the One UI 8 update.
Tragedy struck the Nakuru-Nairobi highway with 13 deaths from a head-on collision near Gilgil and subsequent accidents causing traffic snarl-ups. Counties face financial woes as Senators press for delayed disbursements, and Governors warn of salary delays due to e-procurement system glitches. The High Court nullified the 76,000-acre Kamuthe Wildlife Conservancy title deed and ruled against hospitals detaining bodies over unpaid bills. IEBC begins voter registration with new measures, while KDF announces an October 2025 recruitment drive. KWS will implement new park fees from October 2025 following the poisoning of six lions in Maasai Mara.
The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) is set to implement new conservation fees for its national parks, reserves, and sanctuaries starting Wednesday, October 1, 2025. The revised fees were approved by Parliament on September 25, 2025, and aim to enhance conservation efforts. This development comes as six lions were found poisoned at the Oleisukut Conservancy in Maasai Mara, just days after KWS offered free park entry for World Tourism Day. KWS veterinary staff treated the pride, with four lions making a full recovery. Separately, the High Court has nullified the title deed for the 76,602-acre Kamuthe Wildlife Conservancy in Garissa. The court declared its establishment unconstitutional, irregular, and unlawful due to a lack of public participation and environmental approvals.
A family from Murang’a is mourning the loss of 14 relatives in a road accident that occurred in the Kariandusi area of Gilgil on the Nairobi-Nakuru Highway. Two separate accidents on the highway resulted in a total of twenty deaths, with one collision near Kikopey involving a vehicle and a trailer. Another crash was a head-on collision between a matatu and a lorry. The 14 deceased were members of a single family on their way to visit a relative. Post-mortem examinations for the victims of the Gilgil crash have begun, with reports stating the accident also left 3 people in critical condition.
The High Court in Nairobi has ordered Mater Hospital to release the body of Caroline Nthangu Tito. The body had been detained by the hospital for nearly two months over an unpaid medical bill of KSh 3.3 million. Justice Nixon Sifuna ruled that the detention was unlawful and unconstitutional. A separate incident has been reported at Thika Level 5 Hospital, where Kenyan mothers are allegedly being detained after giving birth due to unpaid maternity bills. This has raised concerns about healthcare coverage under the Social Health Authority (SHA) insurance scheme.
Kenya's Rising Starlets have advanced to the third round of the 2026 Fifa Under-20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers after defeating Ethiopia with a 5-1 aggregate score. In other football news, Kenya Police advanced to the second round of the CAF Champions League preliminary stages, despite a 2-0 loss to Mogadishu City of Somalia at Nyayo National Stadium. In golf, Tito Omore won the Nyanza Mug of September tournament at the Nyanza Golf Club, securing his first title of the year by posting a 64 net over a field of more than 50 golfers. Separately, 14-year-old Shay Chauhan won the 'Muwi' Roofing golf tournament at the Nyali Golf and Country Club, beating over 145 other golfers with a score of 42 stable ford points.
A political dispute between former President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is significantly impacting the political landscape in the Mount Kenya region. A rift within the opposition is widening as Gachagua launched attacks against the Jubilee Party, which is led by Kenyatta. This ongoing tension is reported to be affecting the region's voting patterns. Separately, former President Kenyatta has also publicly criticized the performance of President Ruto's administration.
Jubilee Party Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni has criticized both Kenya's opposition and the government for engaging in "petty politics" and failing the Kenyan people. He accused both factions of prioritizing divisive rhetoric and tactics over solutions and good governance. Kioni claims Kenyans are stuck in the middle of their disputes. The Jubilee Party's efforts to regain political prominence ahead of the 2027 General Election are reportedly causing unease within the opposition. Following a recent Special Delegates Conference, Jubilee has not formally aligned with the United Opposition alliance. The party had previously indicated plans to field its own presidential candidate.
Packaging material manufacturer Shri Krishana Overseas Limited (SKL) has issued a profit warning, anticipating a drop of more than 25 percent in its 2025 full-year earnings. The company, newly listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange, saw its half-year net profit for H1 2025 plummet by 70.4% due to surging borrowing costs associated with its Kisaju expansion project. In contrast, Unga Group Plc has returned to profitability, reporting a KSh 222.1 million net profit for the year ended June 30, 2025, after two consecutive years of losses, driven by stronger sales and reduced finance costs. Additionally, the Enwealth Umbrella Pension Fund reported strong performance, increasing its assets under management by 49 percent to Sh1.056 billion in 2024.
The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) plans to significantly reduce mobile money transaction fees, as detailed in the draft National Financial Inclusion Strategy 2025–2028. The proposal targets a 130% cut by 2028, which would lower charges from Sh23 to Sh10 per transaction. This initiative aims to reignite financial inclusion and broaden participation in the digital economy, addressing a stagnation in new mobile money users. Separately, Kenya is set to increase compensation limits for policyholders and depositors. This move is intended to strengthen trust in the financial sector and enhance safety nets for consumers of financial instruments amidst rising fraud and cyberattacks.
The Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) secondary bond market has achieved a historic milestone, surpassing KSh 2 trillion in turnover as of September 24, 2025. This is the first time the market has reached this level within a single year, exceeding 2024's full-year record of KSh 1.544 trillion. In addition to market growth, financial institutions are expanding their reach. Diamond Trust Bank (DTB) has opened its 90th branch in Kilimani, Nairobi, as part of its ongoing expansion strategy. Meanwhile, KCB Group is intensifying its efforts to support businesses and investors engaging with East Africa and the US markets, according to CEO Paul Russo.
Huawei unveiled its "SMART Logistics & Warehousing Solution" at the HUAWEI CONNECT 2025 conference to integrate AI and automation into global logistics. In the consumer electronics space, Samsung officially launched the Galaxy S25 FE in Kenya, offering premium Galaxy AI features at a KES 99,999 price point. Meanwhile, Apple is secretly developing an internal ChatGPT-style application called Veritas to revamp its virtual assistant, Siri. Apple's new AI app is aiming for a launch as early as March 2026. Samsung's "Fan Edition" phone aims to make flagship AI experiences accessible to a wider audience, while Huawei's platform targets ports, railways, and warehouses.
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