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8 storiesCo-op Bank declares a 1 shilling interim dividend as profit hits 21.6 billion shillings. NEMA cancelled a Kakamega gold mining hearing. NCIC warns on ethnic exclusion in university jobs. Kenya plans a robust digital ID ecosystem.
Starting January 2026, KEBS will ban imports of used cars older than 2019, significantly impacting the second-hand market. This comes as the Mining CS confirmed a 680 billion Kenyan Shillings gold deposit in Kakamega. Meanwhile, Nairobi has been restructured into three sub-regions for improved service delivery. President Ruto launched affordable housing in Makueni, while the IG advocates for unfreezing police recruitment due to officer shortages and 2027 election security concerns. Bankers have called for a reconsideration of the PAYE overhaul to maintain economic stability. Catholic Bishops are demanding amendments to new cybercrime laws, and the IEBC has appealed for voter registration due to low turnout. The Foreign Affairs Ministry revealed 200 Kenyans are fighting in the Russia-Ukraine war, and TSC is requiring all teachers to enroll in professional development courses.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has announced a major administrative shake-up in Nairobi by creating three new subregions to enhance service delivery. The new administrative regions are Nairobi North, Nairobi East, and Nairobi West. This restructuring aims to decentralize administration and improve service delivery for the city's rapidly growing population, which is estimated at over five million. The move includes new appointments and promotions within the National Government Administration. As part of the changes, Murkomen also deployed six new County Commissioners to various counties.
Following the passing of his brother, Raila Odinga, Siaya Senator Oburu Odinga has formally taken over as the Party Leader of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM). Oburu was sworn in on Thursday, November 13, after his appointment was approved by the National Governing Council (NGC). Following the death of the former Prime Minister, President William Ruto has launched a charm offensive targeting Odinga's traditional strongholds ahead of the 2027 general election. The President has begun a strategic campaign to consolidate support in these areas to bolster his re-election prospects for 2027, as the ODM party faces an internal rift.
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Co-op Bank declares a 1 shilling interim dividend as profit hits 21.6 billion shillings. NEMA cancelled a Kakamega gold mining hearing. NCIC warns on ethnic exclusion in university jobs. Kenya plans a robust digital ID ecosystem.
Gachagua alleges insecurity in Mbeere North ahead of by-election, as upcoming by-elections are seen as key tests for Ruto and the opposition. President Ruto is actively campaigning in Raila's former strongholds, while Kindiki meets MPs to consolidate Mt. Kenya support for 2027.
Athletics Kenya's constitutional review faces delays due to contentious issues. The national boxing team, Hit Squad, will begin training for the World Championships after the Kisumu league. Young Kenyan talent Aldrine Kibet joins Harambee Stars and Celta Vigo.
Safaricom held a cybersecurity summit & urges users to disable RCS, signaling its unlikelihood. Airtel Africa partners with Nokia for a high-capacity fiber network linking East and Central Africa. Siaya youth won big at the Kenya Software & AI Summit, while Kenyans are nominated for TikTok Awards. Verto, a fintech company, is among the UK's fastest-growing tech firms. Truecaller launched new ad measurement tools as Spotify rolled out in-app messages in Kenya.
KEBS will bar imports of used cars older than 2019 from January 2026, impacting the second-hand market. The Mining CS confirmed 680 billion Kenyan Shillings gold in Kakamega, promising benefits for Kenya and locals. Nairobi has been restructured into three sub-regions for better service delivery. President Ruto launched affordable housing in Makueni. The IG wants police recruitment unfrozen due to officer shortages and 2027 election security needs. Bankers urge reconsideration of PAYE overhaul to maintain economic stability. Catholic Bishops demand changes to new cybercrime laws. IEBC has appealed to Kenyans to register as voters due to low turnout. The Foreign Affairs Ministry states 200 Kenyans are fighting in the Russia-Ukraine war. TSC wants all teachers to enroll in professional development courses.
The National Police Service (NPS) has pledged robust and impartial security management for the upcoming November 27 by-elections, ensuring comprehensive measures amidst escalating tensions. This follows allegations from former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua regarding planned violence in the Mbeere-North parliamentary by-elections, which he vowed to proceed with via a 9-day campaign tour. Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku has strongly refuted Gachagua's claims. Tensions have been high elsewhere, with three DCI officers suffering serious injuries in Homa Bay County during a violent confrontation with assailants amid rising political tensions ahead of a by-election. NPS Spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga stated the police will remain neutral while acting firmly against electoral chaos.
Upcoming by-elections are seen as a crucial indicator of political strength for President William Ruto's Kenya Kwanza coalition and opposition parties, with 27 by-elections scheduled. Areas like Mbeere North and Malava are emerging as key battlegrounds. Ahead of the November 27 by-election in Mbeere North Constituency, Cabinet Secretary for Public Service Geoffrey Ruku has refuted allegations of election violence threats made by DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua. Amid the by-election push, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki met with over 60 MPs and Senators from Mt Kenya to outline the Kenya Kwanza administration’s strategy for consolidating support.
The Kenyan government has launched a 24/7 Diaspora Affairs Call Centre in Nairobi to provide immediate consular and welfare assistance to its citizens abroad. In another move to enhance public services, Kenya is actively developing a robust digital identity ecosystem. The country's progress in digitizing government services, such as through the eCitizen platform, is aimed at driving inclusive growth. Complementing these government efforts, Google has launched its Gemini Pro Plan (Google AI Pro) in Kenya. This initiative provides university and college students with free access to advanced artificial intelligence tools for 12 months. The goal is to bolster digital learning and research capabilities within higher education.
The United States is ceasing production of the penny after more than 230 years, with the final batch to be struck by the Philadelphia Mint to save money. In another government action, President Donald Trump signed a spending bill to reopen the US government, ending the longest shutdown in US history. The shutdown lasted 43 days, leading to suspended services and unpaid federal employees. Separately, the state of California is revoking 17,000 commercial driver’s licenses issued to immigrants. An audit revealed their holders are no longer legally permitted in the US. The Department of Transportation deemed the licenses “illegally issued” because they had incorrect expiration dates.
Gospel singer Betty Bayo, whose real name was Beatrice Wairimu Mbugua, passed away from acute leukaemia. One report states she died on Monday, November 10, 2025, at Kenyatta National Hospital, while another cites November 11. Following her death, her body was transferred from KNH to the Kenyatta University Referral Hospital Mortuary on Tuesday, November 11, 2025. Her daughter, Sky Victor, reportedly tried to save her mother by alerting neighbors and praying. Before her death, Bayo had dreams for her daughter's global education, which friend Sarah Mtalii pledged to fulfill. Filmmaker Director Trevor revealed he was planning to book the singer for a December event and is among the celebrities mourning her passing.
A KRA officer has been charged in Kisumu's Anti-Corruption Court for allegedly soliciting and receiving a Sh500,000 bribe to alter a tax audit report. In separate actions against corruption, the Head of Public Service, Felix Koskei, issued a stern warning to all Kenyan state agencies regarding the misuse of public resources. Furthermore, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has issued its own warning against corruption during the ongoing police and army recruitment exercises in Kenya.
Shanta Gold has announced the discovery of an estimated KSh 680 billion worth of gold deposits at its mines in Ikolomani, Kakamega. The British company, Shanta Gold Kenya limited, has invested Ksh. 26.87 billion in the venture, and residents of the area are optimistic about the potential benefits. In response, Mining Minister Ali Hassan Joho has assured Kenyans that the extraction of the gold will be conducted transparently. Joho urged Kenyans to allow the government to proceed with the project.
The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has revealed that tribalism is prevalent within the Kenyan government, with only five dominant communities holding positions of power. A separate report by the NCIC highlighted that eight tribes dominate the workforce in Kenya's Public Parastatals, despite over a decade of diversity legislation. In addition to these findings on ethnic favoritism, the commission has also issued a warning regarding the resurgence of gangs ahead of Kenya's 2027 general elections.
