Elgeyo Marakwet mudslides have tragically claimed 36 lives with 16 still missing. The High Court upheld immigration and citizenship fee hikes, while Parliament rejected President Ruto’s directive on mandatory eGP system use, citing unconstitutionality. Separately, the Education Ministry denied reports of increased school fees for January 2026. US Embassy bombing survivors are demanding compensation ahead of Vice President Vance’s visit, as tourism operators protested new park fees in Nairobi. Concerns are also being raised over hidden toll charges in the Rironi-Nakuru-Mau Summit Expressway project.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has taken legal action to reclaim a nine-acre parcel of public land in Ruiru, Kiambu County. This land, originally intended for a school, was illegally converted for residential use and subdivided into 37 residential plots. The EACC filed a lawsuit in the Thika Environment and Land Court, which has since issued temporary injunctions to stop the sale or development of the property, valued at Ksh250 million in 2019. In a separate anti-corruption operation, the EACC arrested five Kenyan traffic police officers along the Busia-Kisumu Road. The arrests were for allegedly extorting bribes from motorists and followed numerous public complaints about widespread bribery.
NCBA Bank is collaborating with the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) at the 8th Changamka Kenya Shopping Festival to support Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the manufacturing sector. In a separate effort, HACO Industries Kenya Limited, UNHCR, and Nemlon Training Institute have launched the HACO ElevateHER Initiative, a social enterprise program to empower women from refugee and host communities in the haircare sector. This focus on industry aligns with a new national strategy, spearheaded by Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade and Industry Lee Kinyanjui, for Kenya to become a regional manufacturing hub. This industrial push leverages green energy and artificial intelligence to promote sustainability and technology.
AXIAN Telecom, through its subsidiary Yas, has officially acquired 99.63% of Wananchi Group (Holdings) Ltd, the parent company of Zuku and Simbanet. This acquisition significantly expands Yas's presence in East Africa's fixed broadband market. In a separate development, Amazon Web Services (AWS) and OpenAI have announced a $38 billion multi-year partnership. Under the deal, OpenAI will leverage AWS’s cloud infrastructure to power its advanced artificial intelligence workloads. Meanwhile, Safaricom's mobile data revenue has surpassed its voice revenue for the first time, signaling a significant shift in connectivity trends. This development highlights the increasing digitization of the Kenyan economy.
Tanzanian artists Diamond Platnumz and Juma Jux call for peace amid post-election unrest. In Kenya, Betty Kyallo expresses disappointment over low youth voter registration, while Octopizzo urges Kibra residents to register, hinting at a 2027 political run focused on community empowerment.
ODM's demand for the Deputy President position from the ruling coalition could threaten DP Kindiki's prospects, despite his one year in office reshaping the role. Meanwhile, former Governor Kidero was acquitted of 213 million shillings corruption charges. Separately, Senator Oburu's Wayleave Bill faces opposition from the National Government.
Kenyans question World Athletics as Chebet and Kipyegon miss top awards. Harambee Starlets coach Odemba is October's best. KVF men's league begins with GSU defending their title. Rawino carries Kenya's Decathlon hopes.
AXIAN Telecom's Yas has fully acquired Wananchi Group, owners of Zuku and Simbanet, boosting its East African fixed broadband presence. Meanwhile, Samsung Kenya extends its electronics repair discount offer until November 2025 for select phones and TVs.
Elgeyo Marakwet mudslides claim 36 lives; 16 remain missing. The High Court upheld immigration and citizenship fee hikes, citing sustainable service delivery. Parliament rejected a directive by President Ruto and Treasury CS Mbadi on mandatory eGP system use, deeming it unconstitutional. The Education Ministry denied claims of increased school fees for January 2026. US Embassy bombing survivors demand compensation ahead of US Vice President Vance’s visit. Tourism operators protested new national park gateway fees in Nairobi. A hidden clause in the Rironi-Nakuru-Mau Summit Expressway project, raising concerns about mandatory toll charges, sparked outrage. A petition challenged English as the primary language of instruction in schools. Lastly, the State Department issued directives for Kenyans abroad to report safety threats, as the US warned foreigners traveling to Tanzania amidst detention reports.
Concerns have been raised regarding the safety of Kenyans in Tanzania following recent elections. The State Department of Foreign Affairs issued directives urging Kenyans to report citizens facing safety threats abroad, specifically mentioning reports of Kenyans being monitored in Tanzania. Separately, the United States government issued a fresh travel advisory for Tanzania, warning foreigners about potential arrests and detentions due to lingering political instability. The Kenyan government addressed these concerns, stating its High Commission in Dar es Salaam has reassured citizens of their safety. The government confirmed that post-election restrictions were lifted and that no incidents targeting Kenyans have been reported.
A recent survey revealed that nearly one in eight German online shoppers have been victimized by fake online stores within the past two years, where payments are taken for goods that are never delivered. In a separate case, a UK-registered website called Kenya Horn Hub is under scrutiny for allegedly advertising "adult tours" in Kenya, which rights groups claim promotes sexual exploitation. Beyond criminal misuse, the digital rights group Paradigm Initiative (PIN) warned that frequent internet shutdowns across Africa are a severe threat to economic growth and investor confidence. The group cited that Tanzania suffered "economically devastating" disruptions during its recent general elections and has an ongoing social media ban.
A petition has been tabled in Kenya's Parliament to degazette sections of Mt Elgon, Kakamega, and Nandi forests, with the goal of regularizing existing human settlements and enabling affordable housing projects. Separately, the governors of Kajiado, Narok, and Samburu counties are powering the third edition of the Maa Cultural and Tourism Festival. This week-long event at Amboseli National Park, running from November 4 to 9, celebrates Maasai heritage and is intended to boost tourism. In another development affecting the country, Kenya is one of nine COMESA member states impacted by a vehicle safety recall from BMW Group South Africa due to faulty starter motors and Takata airbags.
Landslides in Chesongoch have resulted in a tragic loss of life, with 35 people reported dead. A separate incident in Elgeyo Marakwet claimed the lives of five members of the same family. In response, over 350 families in Chesongoch affected by the landslides have received aid. Survivors are recounting their terrifying escapes, and the Ministry of Education has committed to supporting affected students. One student who survived was able to sit for a national examination while in the hospital.
The African Union (AU) has concluded that Tanzania's general election did not meet continental democratic standards and was neither free nor fair. An AU report alleges widespread irregularities that led to a significant victory for President Samia Suluhu. Following the election, the Kenyan government confirmed the killing of a Kenyan national, John Ogutu, in Tanzania during post-election unrest. Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo announced that the Kenyan government is investigating the death to understand the circumstances and has promised to seek justice for the family.
Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers in Murang'a County are protesting in Gatanga constituency, demanding employment on permanent and pensionable terms. They are calling for the immediate confirmation of 20,000 intern teachers. In separate news, learning is set to resume in Kenyan public universities as lecturers have ended their 49-day strike. The decision to call off the strike followed a meeting between union officials and the Ministry of Education, with an intervention from CS Kindiki noted as helping to resolve the stalemate.
Kenya's Harambee Stars are set to play an international friendly against former AFCON champions Senegal in Turkey during the November FIFA window. Senegal has announced its star-studded squad to face the Harambee Stars, which includes players like Sadio Mané, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Nicolas Jackson. On a related note for Kenyan national football, Harambee Starlets head coach Beldine Odemba has been named the Sports Journalists Association of Kenya (SJAK) and Betika Coach of the Month for October 2025. This recognition follows her successful guidance of the women’s national team to a historic qualification for the 2026 CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
ODM Acting Party leader Oburu Oginga stated that President William Ruto's 2027 re-election bid does not have automatic support from the ODM party. Oginga clarified that ODM's backing would be conditional on how President Ruto handles the party within their current working arrangement. The Orange Democratic Movement is also demanding the Deputy President position in Kenya's next General Election. This declaration is creating political tension and specifically jeopardizes the political future of current Deputy President Prof. Kithure Kindiki. Deputy President Kindiki took office on November 1, 2024, succeeding the impeached Rigathi Gachagua.
