Nine people died in a tragic road accident on the Nairobi-Nakuru highway, following the Karen building collapse that killed two, which the NCA attributed to formwork failure. In Nyeri, President Ruto launched the NYOTA Project, disbursing 173.2 million shillings to youth, and announced 44 billion shillings released for junior to senior school transitions. He also praised peace efforts in Kerio Valley and highlighted a key Kenya-US health partnership. Meanwhile, the DCI arrested three suspects linked to robberies and murder in Uasin Gishu, as Kenya plans its first locally manufactured vaccine by 2027.
Eliud Owalo has declared his intention to run for president in the 2027 general elections, positioning himself to challenge President William Ruto. Hours after his announcement, Owalo resigned from his role as Deputy Chief of Staff in Ruto's administration, stating his presidential bid made his position untenable. The declaration was dismissed by Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo as "hot air" and "politically unrealistic" without major party backing. Meanwhile, President William Ruto began a tour of the Mt Kenya region, where he challenged the opposition for the 2027 elections, stating it will be a contest of records.
Terra Industries, an African defense technology startup, has successfully raised $11.75 million in a funding round to expand its manufacturing capabilities. Egyptian fitness and wellness SaaS startup FitXpert has also secured a seven-figure strategic investment from Foras Investment. The funding is intended to fuel FitXpert's regional expansion across the Arab world. In a separate development, the ADI Foundation has partnered with M-Pesa to implement blockchain infrastructure across eight African markets where M-Pesa operates. This collaboration will deploy the ADI Chain, a regulatory-focused blockchain network. The focus of the ADI and M-Pesa partnership is primarily on institutional use cases.
The Auditor-General questions six Woman Representatives over an 18.9 million Kenyan Shillings jikos deal. Meanwhile, the High Court allows regulatory processes for the Diageo–Asahi transaction, and luxury carmakers are venturing into real estate, building branded skyscrapers.
US YouTuber IShowSpeed's Kenyan tour saw record livestream views. Comedian 2Mbili publicly apologized to partner Jackie Ogaga amid breakup rumors. Pastor Kanyari's children returned from the UK, signifying a custody truce. President Ruto's son, George, penned a tribute to sister Charlene for her 33rd birthday. Betty Kyallo's boyfriend criticized Kenyan men for their attention-seeking behavior during IShowSpeed's visit.
Ruto reassures Mt Kenya amid perceived internal rifts. Meanwhile, Eliud Owalo plans a new political party, sparking speculation about 2027 alliances and potential shifts within the current political landscape.
Terra Industries raised $11.75 million for African autonomous defense tech. M-Pesa collaborates with ADI Foundation on blockchain infrastructure across 8 African markets. A Vertiv report details AI's impact on data centers, while Samsung showcases AI living at CES 2026.
A tragic road accident on the Nairobi-Nakuru highway claimed nine lives. This follows a Karen building collapse that killed two, with the NCA blaming formwork failure and engineering students citing column instability. President Ruto launched the NYOTA Project in Nyeri, disbursing 173.2 million shillings to youth, and affirmed 44 billion shillings have been released for junior to senior school transitions, ensuring no child is left behind. He also hailed peace restoration in Kerio Valley and highlighted a crucial Kenya-US health deal for millions. The DCI meanwhile arrested three suspects linked to armed robberies and murder in Uasin Gishu. Kenya is also set to roll out its first locally manufactured vaccine by 2027.
Suna East MP Junet Mohamed is facing internal strife within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) over his support for cooperation with President William Ruto and the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party. This stance has caused friction and put him at odds with other party factions. Concurrently, Makadara MP George Aladwa has publicly dismissed political meetings led by a faction including Secretary General Edwin Sifuna and Siaya Governor James Orengo. Aladwa accused these leaders of undermining party unity and attempting to "auction the party." These divisions are surfacing as the ODM considers potential coalition talks, including with President Ruto's UDA.
The National Treasury is moving to sell a 15 percent equity stake in Safaricom PLC to the Vodacom Group for approximately Sh244.5 billion ($1.6 billion), a move that raises data sovereignty concerns. In a separate government initiative, Sh173.2 million has been disbursed to 6,982 startups in Central Kenya as part of the Nyota Project to address youth unemployment. In Nairobi’s Central Business District, the five-storey Uchumi House has been listed for sale with an asking price of Sh562.5 million, offering immediate rental income from its established tenants. Additionally, the High Court in Kenya has permitted the regulatory approval processes for the Diageo–Asahi transaction to proceed, though it issued a temporary order restraining the final stages of the deal.
Kenyan teams and athletes achieved significant wins across several sports. In golf, Duncan Kivuitu successfully defended his title at the Minet golf tournament held at the Karen Country Club. In polo, the Mgamery team, led by Amani Nzomo, secured a dominant 8-1 victory over NPC in the Davis Cup final at Nairobi Polo Club. On the international stage, Kenya defended its overall title at the World Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee, Florida, topping the medal table with nine medals. In local football, AFC Leopards seized the top spot in the SportPesa Premier League after defeating Tusker 4-0 at Nyayo Stadium. This win, fueled by Samuel Ssenyonjo’s hat-trick, moved them three points clear after rivals Gor Mahia drew 0-0.
There is concern and disruption at Aldai Primary School and Aldai Boys School regarding its conversion into a university campus. Grade 10 students and their parents at Aldai Primary School discovered the school has been converted, creating a precarious situation for learners. Similarly, students and teachers at Aldai Boys School are facing disruption due to the dispute over the proposed conversion. Some schools are also threatening to prevent thousands of students from joining Grade 10 due to alleged corruption concerns.
Several public figures marked birthdays with significant personal events. George Ruto, son of President William Ruto, sent a heartfelt birthday tribute to his sister Charlene Ruto on her 33rd birthday. Meanwhile, comedian and content creator 2Mbili also marked his 33rd birthday by issuing a public apology to his long-term partner, Jackie Ogaga, amidst breakup rumors. In another celebration, Austin Mtalii, son of Bonfire Adventures Managing Director Sarah Mtalii, received a majestic black horse for his 13th birthday. George Ruto's tribute included a throwback photo shared on Instagram. 2Mbili's apology sought reconciliation after what he termed a "turbulent end to 2025." The horse given to Austin Mtalii was intended to encourage an active lifestyle and reduce screen time.
A fire in the Millennium area of Diani, Kwale County, resulted in the death of one woman and the destruction of several homes. The incident occurred on Monday morning, with one report stating the blaze started in the victim's house around 3 am. Another report indicates the 40-year-old woman raised an alarm around 9 AM after her house caught fire. A total of six houses were destroyed in the fire. The tragic event has been reported as a fire incident in the Millennium area of Diani where one person died.
