Doctors threaten a nationwide strike over alleged infant deaths in Kiambu, a claim the county refutes. Meanwhile, publishers warn of learning disruptions due to the government's 11.4 billion Kenyan Shillings textbook debt, and teachers anticipate KCSE exam disruptions over delayed capitation. The CBK has cut key lending rates, potentially offering cheaper loans, but Nairobi Water will disconnect defaulting customers. Kenya is now repaying its SGR loan in Yuan, saving costs. The CA is enforcing cybersecurity rules for critical firms, and the Health Ministry is adopting a single-dose HPV vaccine. Tragically, two children died in Kayole from collapsing construction debris.
The Central Bank of Kenya's Monetary Policy Committee cut the Central Bank Rate by 25 basis points, a move expected to lead to more affordable loans. President William Ruto has launched NYOTA (National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement), a program offering Sh50,000 grants and training to over 820,000 young Kenyans. Separately, the Kenyan government announced over 60 job vacancies across various agencies, including Clerk of Works positions at the National Housing Corporation with a salary of Ksh60,000 per month. At the county level, the Kisumu County Government has launched a housing renewal program to replace old homes with modern high-rise apartments.
The Kenya Publishers Association (KPA) has warned of learning disruptions for over one million Grade 10 students due to the government's delay in releasing Ksh11.4 billion to publish textbooks. Similarly, education stakeholders are warning of potential disruptions to the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations due to delayed capitation disbursements to schools. Beyond the education sector, the Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company (NCWSC) has announced a widespread water disconnection exercise set to begin on October 15. This measure will target all defaulting customers, including government institutions, in an aggressive move to recover overdue arrears.
Kenya has officially switched from repaying its Ksh646.15 billion (USD5 billion) Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) loan to China in US Dollars to the Chinese Yuan, a move aimed at reducing costs. On the regional front, Kenya is hosting the 24th COMESA Summit, where President William Ruto is assuming the chairmanship to secure trade benefits. In diplomatic talks with Russia, Kenya is formalizing a migration framework to protect its nationals from irregular conscriptions into the Russian military. The government is also pleading with Ukraine for assistance in repatriating Kenyan citizens captured while fighting for Russia.
The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has threatened a nationwide strike in 19 days, citing the alleged deaths of 136 newborn babies in Kiambu County. Kiambu County has vehemently denied these claims, accusing the union of exaggeration and malice. The union also postponed a planned demonstration in Kiambu from October 8 to October 13, 2025, to allow for broader stakeholder participation. This dispute is set against the backdrop of a strike by Kiambu health workers which has entered its fifth month. The situation also follows the redeployment of 697 medical interns from Kiambu County.
The Kenya Meteorological Department has issued a forecast warning of continued rainfall and potential flash floods in several parts of Kenya this week. Related to concerns over the ongoing rainy season, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has issued five directives to motorists ahead of school closings, relaunching its "Operation Watoto Wafike Salama" campaign. A major incident occurred on the evening of October 7, when a 33-seater bus plunged into the Mashagusha stream at Waruku, off Waiyaki Way. The accident injured scores of passengers and led to a challenging rescue operation.
Mukurweini MP John Kaguchia has publicly accused President William Ruto’s administration of deceiving Kenyans and betraying its pre-election promises, stating on Spice FM that he has lost faith in the government's integrity. In a separate criticism, Senate Speaker Amason Kingi faulted county governors for neglecting to implement Senate resolutions intended to curb mismanagement and embezzlement of funds. Kingi emphasized the Senate's role is to ensure accountability, not to create conflict. Meanwhile, Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir criticized former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua for his remarks concerning Raila Odinga. Gachagua also made headlines by dismissing concerns about his political standing, asserting himself as Kenya's present and future political force in contrast to former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Kenya launches a financial inclusion strategy to boost citizens' financial health. Kenya Power's profit dipped 18% but equity crossed 100 billion Kenyan shillings. Naivas Supermarkets appointed Andreas von Paleske as its new CEO. A Lebanese contractor seeks to liquidate Oilfields Ltd amidst a KPC pipeline dispute.
A proposed bill mandates schools register 18-year-old students as voters. Senate Mashinani sittings are in Busia as Speaker Kingi faults governors on graft. Mukurweini MP Kaguchia criticizes the government for broken promises. Meanwhile, a new political team eyes a presidential candidate, and some suggest Kalonzo for 2027, drawing reactions from Mombasa Governor Nassir while Gachagua asserts his political future.
Harambee Stars captain Michael Olunga is set to break Kenya's all-time scoring record. The FKF Women's Premier League kicked off with Vihiga Queens winning, while Mombasa United leads the Super League. Kenyan basketball teams are chasing the EABCC trophy. Esports Kenya Series crowned new champions in Nakuru, and junior golfers shined at the US Kids tournament in Nyali.
Doctors threaten a nationwide strike over alleged deaths of 136 babies in Kiambu, a claim the county denies. Publishers warn of learning disruptions due to the government's 11.4 billion Kenyan Shillings textbook debt, while teachers anticipate KCSE exam disruptions over delayed capitation. The CBK cut lending rates, offering Kenyans cheaper loans. However, Nairobi Water will disconnect defaulting customers. Kenya is now repaying its SGR loan to China in Yuan instead of US Dollars, saving costs. The CA requires critical firms to comply with cybersecurity rules. The Ministry of Health is transitioning to a single-dose HPV vaccine. Two children died in Kayole from collapsing construction debris.
Samsung is rolling out its One UI 8 update, based on Android 16, to multiple devices in East Africa, including the Galaxy A34 5G, A26 5G, and A15 5G. The company is also expanding this rollout to the Galaxy A55, the entire Galaxy S22 series, and the Galaxy Tab S10 family. In other operating system news, Microsoft announced that support for Windows 10 officially ends on October 14, 2025, after which users will no longer receive security updates, bug fixes, or technical support. Separately, following significant user feedback, Apple is bringing back the Slide Over multitasking feature in iPadOS 26.1 Beta 2, reversing a controversial change from iPadOS 26.
A learning crisis is imminent at Dedan Kimathi University in Nyeri as lecturers and university workers have announced industrial action over salary disputes. Lecturers are protesting to demand the implementation of a diagonal salary payment system and allege mistreatment by the university regarding the implementation of agreements, threatening to disrupt academic activities. In response to ongoing strikes, students from the University of Nairobi (UoN) are appealing to the government for a swift resolution. Students at Laikipia University have also threatened to join the strike if the government does not address the lecturers' demands within 72 hours. This comes as the strike by public university lecturers continues to disrupt studies across the country.
The Association of Publishers in Kenya warns that public schools might begin the 2026 academic year without textbooks. The Kenya Publishers Association has expressed concerns that books for Grade 10 students may be delayed until 2026. This potential delay in the printing and distribution of textbooks for senior schools is due to a significant debt owed by the government to the publishing industry. The issue stems from the government's delay in releasing payments to publishers. These issues highlight that the Kenyan education sector is facing delays in textbook distribution.
