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2 storiesNairobi Governor Sakaja reshuffles his Cabinet, moving ten CCOs ahead of the new financial year. Meanwhile, influencer Diana Marua celebrated her daughter Malaika’s birthday with a grand photoshoot.
Kenya plans to privatize 65% of Kenya Pipeline Company, offering shares on the Nairobi Securities Exchange, with Uganda as a stakeholder. President Ruto is relocating Kisii GK Prison for affordable housing, concurrently rallying support for his economic agenda, even as former CJ Maraga unveiled his own five-point economic revitalization plan. Meanwhile, a student's mutilated body was discovered in Kirinyaga. Chief Justice Koome has formed a committee to decriminalize petty offenses, while Mombasa police seized bhang worth 72 million shillings. In education, 132,000 teachers are vying for 21,000 promotion slots. The Foreign Affairs PS assured the family of a Kenyan teacher killed in Tanzania of swift repatriation, while Makongeni residents face eviction for housing development. Lastly, DP Rigathi Gachagua alleged a vote-rigging scheme in Mbeere North.
Ahead of the November 27 Mbeere North by-election, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua alleged a vote-rigging scheme where youths are being paid for their IDs to prevent them from voting. Relatedly, Moses Kuria, leader of the Chama Cha Kazi Party, warned the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) about rising insecurity during campaigns for upcoming by-elections. He stressed the need for reinforced security to protect Kenya's international reputation. Meanwhile, ahead of the November 27 Malava Constituency by-election, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi campaigned for UDA candidate David Ndakwa. They emphasized the importance of electing Ndakwa to keep Malava aligned with the government.
Campaigns for upcoming by-elections, scheduled for Wednesday, have been plagued by chaos, accusations of voter bribery, and suppression, raising concerns about the fairness of the polls. The opposition fears a rigging plan involving hired disruptors and the use of the 2017 voter register, putting institutions like the IEBC and NCIC under scrutiny. Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka accused senior government figures of attempting to manipulate elections, warning that these actions threaten national stability. In response, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi urged Malava Constituency residents to maintain peace and unity ahead of the November 27 by-election.
Nairobi Governor Sakaja reshuffles his Cabinet, moving ten CCOs ahead of the new financial year. Meanwhile, influencer Diana Marua celebrated her daughter Malaika’s birthday with a grand photoshoot.
Mini-polls in battleground areas are testing the political strength of President Ruto and DP Gachagua factions, potentially reshaping the 2027 landscape. Meanwhile, a dispute between Homa Bay Governor Wanga and her deputy Magwanga is escalating in Kasipul campaigns.
MP Ndindi Nyoro claims the Talanta Stadium could cost taxpayers 145 billion shillings, far exceeding projections. Meanwhile, Kisumu and Migori counties are fighting GBV in sports. Kenyan athlete James Musembi won Deaflympics gold. Kenya Police are set to win the National Boxing League title, Nairobi City Thunder face Johannesburg Giants in BAL qualifiers, and the Kenya Cup kicks off with new teams. Fatuma Zarika and Rayton Okwiri will headline Nairobi Fight Night.
Kenya will privatize 65% of Kenya Pipeline Company through the Nairobi Securities Exchange, with Uganda set to co-own shares. President Ruto also announced relocating Kisii GK Prison for affordable housing, while rallying support for his economic agenda. Former CJ Maraga released a five-point plan for economic revitalization. A 22-year-old student's mutilated body was found in Kirinyaga. Chief Justice Koome formed a committee to decriminalize petty offenses, and a 72 million Shillings bhang seizure was made in Mombasa. 132,000 teachers compete for 21,000 promotion slots. Foreign Affairs PS assured the family of a Kenyan teacher killed in Tanzania of swift repatriation efforts. Makongeni residents face eviction for housing, and Rigathi Gachagua alleged a vote-rigging scheme in Mbeere North.
President William Ruto announced plans to relocate Kisii GK Prison to make way for affordable housing projects during a development tour in the Gusii region. In Nairobi's Makongeni Estate, families face eviction by December 2, 2025, to clear land for a similar affordable housing project. Some residents have lived in Makongeni for over 60 years and are now appealing for an extension and fair compensation. Following the demolitions, the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) plans to challenge the government's decision. LSK President Faith Odhiambo denounced the demolitions as human rights violations, highlighting that residents who were promised relocation funds did not receive them.
The Kenyan government has announced plans to close 742 companies, with the Registrar of Companies publishing a gazette notice giving a three-month period for objections before the dissolutions take effect in February. In a separate move impacting a state-owned enterprise, President William Ruto announced that Kenya will privatize the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC). Kenya plans to divest 65 percent of its stake, allowing Uganda and other regional investors to co-invest after a listing on the Nairobi Securities Exchange. Additionally, the government has released Ksh 230 million to former employees of Pan Paper Mills. This payment addresses long-standing arrears and is considered a significant step toward reviving the region's industrial economy.
Upcoming by-elections in Kenya are poised to become a significant political battleground and a popularity contest between President William Ruto and his former Deputy Rigathi Gachagua. The mini polls are described as a "litmus test" that will reshape the political landscape ahead of the 2027 General Election. This showdown will test Gachagua's claims of control over the Mt Kenya region. Ahead of the November 27 by-election, Democratic Congress Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua has accused President William Ruto and former President Uhuru Kenyatta of "betraying" the Mt Kenya community.
President William Ruto announced that the extension of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) from Naivasha, Kenya, to Kampala, Uganda, will begin in early 2026. The project aims to bolster regional trade within the East African Community. In a separate development, Nairobi is set to host the Malaysia–Africa Higher Education Forum 2025. Malaysia's Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Kenya's Education Cabinet Secretary, Julius Migos Ogamba, will inaugurate the event on Monday, November 24. Additionally, Diamond Trust Bank (DTB) reached a sustainability milestone by planting its one millionth tree. This is part of its "Much More Than Trees" initiative, which aims to grow 10 million trees by 2030 to support Kenya's national environmental goals.
A series of tragic road accidents have occurred in Machakos and Makueni counties. In Machakos, three people died in an accident near the Mua Bridge. A separate incident in Machakos on the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway, involving a trailer and a passenger vehicle, left three people dead and 37 others injured. In Makueni, six individuals have died in another accident. Additionally, a single family from Makueni is mourning the loss of four members in a separate tragic road accident.
Bulldozers have begun demolishing old homes in Nairobi’s Makongeni estate to make way for President Ruto’s affordable housing project. According to the government's development plans, this initiative aims to replace existing structures with new affordable housing units. Demolition activities have officially commenced, and hundreds of residents in the Makongeni area have been rendered homeless, leaving numerous families without shelter. While residents have begun to vacate the area, some are lamenting that they have not yet received the expected compensation.
Kenyan boxer Sarah Achieng’, the current World Boxing Foundation (WBF) super lightweight champion, is scheduled to fight Samantha Worthington of the United States for the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) super lightweight title. In athletics, Kenyan rivals Ian Wambui Kahinga and James Mwanza Musembi are set to compete in the men's 5000m finals in Tokyo, Japan, on Monday. Meanwhile, in the SportPesa Premier League, Gor Mahia defeated Tusker 1-0. This victory extended their lead at the top of the league to four points clear of Kakamega Homeboyz. In other league matches, Kenya Police moved to third place and KCB ended their winless streak.
President William Ruto has dismissed criticism from the opposition alliance, stating it lacks a beneficial agenda for Kenyans and offers no alternative vision for national progress. This came after leaders from the Kenya Moja Alliance criticized the President's development agenda, asserting it is built on foundational "lies and fiction." President Ruto strongly criticized his opponents in return, urging them to present an alternative governance plan rather than continuously opposing his administration's "transformative roadmap agenda." He also dismissed their criticisms that his plans are "far-fetched."
Recent data from the National Syndemic Diseases Control Council (NSDCC) indicates a concerning increase in new HIV infections across Kenya. Separately, reports show Kenya is grappling with significant economic losses due to mental illness, amounting to billions annually. One report states Kenya is facing a staggering loss of approximately KSh 22 billion due to mental health illnesses. This crisis is underscored by a concerning rise in suicide cases, particularly among men, with one report noting a statistic of four men committing suicide.