Kenya News - December 8, 2025 | Daily Summary - The Online Kenyan
Daily Summary
Kenya News - December 8, 2025
The government plans to offer permanent terms to Junior Secondary School intern teachers by 2026 to prevent strikes. Meanwhile, the Treasury seeks public input for the 2026 Finance Bill. Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka has criticised alleged secret sales of national assets and reckless debt. The EACC reports tracing 22.9 billion shillings in illicit wealth and recovering 3.4 billion shillings. President Ruto made new appointments to a trade agency, while public participation begins on selling a 15% Safaricom stake. IEBC Chair Ethekon warned against political interference, stating election theft is impossible. Kenya and the UK have boosted their health partnership, and Ikolomani residents demand rights to gold-rich land after clashes.
Parliament seeks public views on the government's 15% Safaricom stake sale. The High Court ordered the government to pay 24 billion shillings to a sugar investor over a failed land deal. KenGen assures stable power supply through hydropower. Credit Bank aims to raise 4.5 billion shillings. NCBA and HEVA target the creative economy with new financing.
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Kabras Sugar dominate Kenya Cup, KPA women's basketball team reaches WBLA quarters. Kenyan boxer Wandera advances in Dubai. Local teams win polo tournaments in Gilgil. Lando Norris clinched the 2025 Formula One driver's title for McLaren.
tech
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Safaricom is seeing a major corporate shift as Vodacom takes majority control in a 245 billion Kenyan Shillings deal. Safaricom also updated M-Pesa's SIM Toolkit, adding recipient confirmation and promotional offers. Meanwhile, Google Chrome and Edge now natively support HLS playback.
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The government promises permanent terms for JSS intern teachers by 2026 to avert a strike. Meanwhile, the Treasury invites Kenyan public input for the 2026 Finance Bill. Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka alleges secret sale of national assets and reckless debt management. EACC reported tracing 22.9 billion shillings in illicit wealth, recovering 3.4 billion shillings. President Ruto made new appointments in a trade agency. Public participation has begun on selling a 15% Safaricom stake. IEBC Chair Ethekon warned against political interference by "super agents" in elections but stated that stealing an election is now impossible. Kenya and the UK have enhanced their health partnership. Lastly, Ikolomani residents demand rights to gold-rich land after deadly clashes.
December 8, 2025
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The Government of Kenya has outlined nine conditions for Vodacom to acquire a 15% stake in Safaricom as part of a KES 245 billion deal giving Vodacom majority control. This divestment aims to raise between KES 240.5 billion and KES 244.5 billion for the National Infrastructure Fund and the Sovereign Wealth Fund. In separate service updates, Safaricom introduced a new confirmation step for M-PESA transactions via its SIM Toolkit, requiring users to re-enter the recipient's number to reduce wrong transactions. The company also introduced new promotional pop-ups within its M-PESA SIM Toolkit, offering discounted data and minutes bundles to users attempting to send money to Airtel Kenya.
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Counties Report Surges in Teenage Pregnancy and Gender-Based Violence - December 2025
Bomet County is experiencing a troubling surge in cases of teenage pregnancy, defilement, and domestic violence, which are often compounded by cultural cover-ups. The county has been identified as one of the regions experiencing a high percentage of gender-based violence. In Nyatike constituency, Migori County, stakeholders are also calling for collaborative strategies to combat the rising cases of teenage pregnancies. As the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence conclude, calls have been made for the government to improve laws addressing digital crimes that target girls and women. In a related incident, detectives in Embakasi are investigating the murder of a young girl aged between 10 and 13 years.
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Kenyan Teams and Athletes Secure Wins in Football, Rugby, Basketball, and Boxing - December 2025
AFC Leopards defeated arch-rivals Gor Mahia 1-0 at Nyayo National Stadium in the 98th edition of the Mashemeji Derby. In rugby, defending champions Kabras Sugar are leading the Kenya Cup table after a record-breaking 123-0 victory over Impala. At the Manyatta Polo Club in Gilgil, two teams, Sosian Energy and Play With Fitness, emerged victorious in the Moi Cup and Martin Kesier Memorial Trophy polo tournaments. The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) basketball team stormed into the quarter-finals of the 2025 Women Basketball League Africa in Cairo after defeating Nigeria's FirstBank 82-53. In boxing, Kenya's Washington Wandera advanced to the pre-quarterfinals of the Elite World Men Boxing Championships in Dubai after a unanimous points' decision victory.
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Kenya Hosts UNEA-7 and Commits to Funding Women in Climate Change Initiatives - December 2025
The seventh United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-7) has officially commenced at the UNEP headquarters in Gigiri, Nairobi, hosting high-level environment talks. In connection with these themes, Kenya has pledged to increase funding and resources for women engaged in peace, security, and climate change initiatives. This commitment was highlighted as women at the grassroots level are recognized for their crucial role in these efforts. It was also noted that women from lower socioeconomic backgrounds are disproportionately affected by the impacts of climate change.
An escalating drought in Northeastern Kenya is causing severe food and water shortages, which has led to the death of hundreds of livestock. Communities in Wajir and Mandera Counties are reported to be particularly affected, with many families struggling to survive. In response, Waziri wa Kilimo Mutahi Kagwe has stated that the Kenyan government will begin using new methods to monitor livestock that are at risk of perishing due to the severe drought conditions. To address the resulting food shortages in the country, reports are encouraging Kenyans to turn to poultry farming.
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Digital creator Gloria Ntazola has publicly responded to viral claims from her homeless brother, dismissing his allegations of abandonment as false. Following the death of singer Betty Bayo, her mother, Joyce Wairimu, declared herself the rightful next of kin. Wairimu has demanded a postmortem and the immediate removal of Betty's children from their current home. Pastor Victor Kanyari, the father of Betty Bayo’s children, then urged the widower Hiram Gitau (Tash) to heed the advice of Betty's mother. In a TikTok video on December 7, 2025, Kanyari expressed sorrow for Betty's mother, noting her profound loss and Betty's role as her primary provider. Gloria Ntazola stated her family had provided her brother with housing and financial aid.