Health PS Mary Muthoni has urged women to undergo cervical cancer screening due to rising cases. In legal developments, the LSK secured temporary orders restoring JSC's authority over judges' complaints, as County Attorneys protested a Nakuru High Court ruling that blocked counties from hiring private law firms. The DPP successfully prosecuted officers involved in the 2021 Kamiti prison break, while a traffic officer is on the run after a bribery crackdown on the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway. In Kisii, parents chased away teachers from St Thomas Raganga Secondary over poor KCSE results. Medics in Eldoret protested the killing of a colleague, demanding protection. Internationally, Trump's proposed 25% tariff on countries trading with Iran could impact Kenya's tea exports, and Uganda shut down the internet ahead of its elections.
Kenya is reviving a Ksh 250 billion mega expansion plan for Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to solidify its status as a regional aviation hub, with the project being led by the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA). Complementing this, Mombasa Governor Abdullswamad Nassir urged the national government to redevelop Moi International Airport, possibly through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP), citing its neglect. In a separate national development initiative, the State Department for Correctional Services is realigning its priorities under Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen. The plan includes releasing prison land to support the government's Affordable Housing Programme and to increase food production.
The UK government has launched unprecedented regulatory action against Elon Musk’s X platform, with Ofcom beginning a formal investigation into the AI chatbot Grok for generating illegal sexualized deepfakes. Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned X could lose its “right to self-regulate” under the Online Safety Act. Despite these concerns, the Pentagon is moving forward with integrating Grok AI into its network this month. Separately, Apple is partnering with Google to integrate Gemini AI into its next-generation Siri assistant, a collaboration confirmed on January 12, 2026, to enhance Siri's capabilities. In other AI developments, Instagram is reportedly developing new features, including AI-powered transitions for Stories and AI voice filters for direct messages.
In 2025, Apple surpassed Samsung to become the global leader in smartphone shipments, capturing a 20% market share as the overall market grew 2% year-over-year. This shift highlights a market "premiumization" trend. Amid intense market pressures and declining sales for OPPO, Realme has officially returned to OPPO as a sub-brand after seven years of independence, effective January 2026. This consolidation occurred within BBK Electronics. Meanwhile, OPPO Kenya is scheduled to launch its new Reno15 Series smartphones on January 23, 2026, which will feature three models: the Reno15 Pro, Reno15, and Reno15F.
![| DAY BREAK | Politics: State of Play [Part 1]](https://static.theonlinekenyan.com/news_images/-DAY-BREAK-Politi_1768283760-16x9.jpg)
Data sovereignty fears rise as Treasury plans to sell 15% of Safaricom to Vodacom for 244.5 billion Kenyan Shillings, with CS Mbadi citing better value than NSE. PwC advises importers to seek refunds for unconstitutional palm oil duty. Government disburses 173.2 million Kenyan Shillings to 6,982 startups in Central Kenya.
A former Kamiti inmate described rampant prison homosexuality and rape, sparking shock. Meanwhile, Prophet Owuor's 2019 video claiming divine creation has resurfaced, dividing Kenyans. Andrew Kibe controversially criticized Christianity and social events. Sammy Boy addressed viral video criticism involving IShowSpeed, and Betty Kyallo shared pregnancy struggles. Naomi Kuria, post-surgery, expressed renewed marriage plans.
ODM explores pre-election pact with UDA, sparking concerns as Sifuna misses key meeting. Meanwhile, Ruto's budget eyes Gen Z and women, amid a power struggle with Gachagua in Mt. Kenya, while Owalo declares presidential bid.
Kenyan athlete Albert Korir was provisionally suspended for a doping violation. Meanwhile, Xabi Alonso has left Real Madrid, with Alvaro Arbeloa taking over as coach.
CMA introduces a new RBCA digital reporting system for capital markets oversight from 2026. M-Pesa partners with ADI Foundation to explore blockchain infrastructure across 8 African markets. Mamy Eyewear secures investment from Japan's Ikemori. OPPO Kenya to launch Reno15 Series and Samsung releases Stranger Things themes.
Public Health PS Mary Muthoni urges women to undergo cervical cancer screening due to rising cases. In legal news, the LSK secured temporary orders restoring JSC's authority over judges' complaints, while County Attorneys condemned Nakuru High Court orders halting private law firm engagements by counties. The DPP secured convictions for officers aiding the 2021 Kamiti prison break. Meanwhile, a traffic officer is on the run after a bribery crackdown on the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway. In Kisii, parents chased away teachers from St Thomas Raganga Secondary over poor KCSE results. Medics in Eldoret protested the killing of a colleague, demanding protection. Internationally, Trump's proposed 25% tariff on countries trading with Iran could impact Kenya's tea exports. Uganda shut down internet ahead of its elections.
The Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) has released the performance reports for the 2025 Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) and Kenya Intermediate Level Education Assessment (KILEA). In response to separate exam results, parents in Kisii County stormed St Thomas Raganga Secondary School on January 12 after all students scored Ds and Es in the KCSE exams, chasing away teachers in protest of the poor performance. Meanwhile, Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro has launched an education program, Kiharu Masomo Bora 2026 Edition, that slashes secondary school fees to Ksh500 per term. This fee reduction will benefit over 12,000 students across 65 day secondary schools in Kiharu Constituency.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) is searching for a traffic police officer who fled an anti-bribery operation along the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway, an incident where three other officers from Kyumbi Traffic Police Base were arrested. In a separate case, the Director of Public Prosecutions secured the conviction of prison officers for their involvement in the 2021 escape of terrorist inmates from Kamiti Maximum Security Prison, which the court found was a planned event. Elsewhere, medics from Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital protested at Eldoret Central Police Station over the killing of their colleague, Richard Rotich. The medics accused security agencies of failing to protect frontline workers and demanded action.
A delegation from the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) visited Kenya's Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) for a peer learning and benchmarking tour. This visit is to help strengthen Zambia's electoral process ahead of its August 2026 general election, especially after adopting a Mixed Member Proportional Representation (MMPR) system. In neighboring Uganda, the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) ordered a temporary suspension of public internet access and selected mobile services. The directive, effective January 13, 2026, aims to curb misinformation and prevent incitement to violence during the country's presidential and parliamentary elections.
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has commenced preparations for the 2027 General Election. As part of its strategy, the ODM Central Committee has sanctioned coalition talks with the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) regarding a potential 2027 pre-election deal. Wycliffe Oparanya, a prominent figure in ODM, has stated that the party is open to dialogue with UDA. A recent meeting in Kilifi is being highlighted as a precursor to an alliance strategy between the two parties. This development comes amid internal wrangles within ODM and has led to speculation about the party potentially being a target in UDA's "swallowship" strategy, following the committee's green light to Oburu Oginga.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has launched disciplinary investigations into "potentially unacceptable behaviour" during the Morocco vs. Cameroon and Algeria vs. Nigeria AFCON 2025 quarter-final matches. As the tournament progresses, Nigeria's Super Eagles, led by Alex Iwobi, are in the semi-finals and are set to face tournament hosts Morocco in Rabat on Wednesday. Iwobi attributes the team's strong showing to a newfound unity. Another semi-final match on Wednesday, January 13, 2025, will feature former Liverpool teammates Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane facing each other. This will be their first reunion on the pitch since the May 2022 Champions League Final.
Eliud Owalo, the immediate former Deputy Chief of Staff, has declared his intention to contest the presidency in 2027. His entry into the presidential race has ignited debate regarding its implications for the Nyanza region. Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo dismissed the move as "hot-air". Odhiambo suggested it could be a strategic political maneuver or a play for other political ambitions. The declaration has been framed as Owalo being either a rival to President Ruto or playing a hidden card.
Activists, led by Okiya Omtatah Okoiti, have filed a constitutional petition in the High Court to stop the proposed privatization of the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC), citing national security risks and constitutional breaches. They have requested the Chief Justice appoint a three-judge bench for the case. Separately, the Kenyan government has reaffirmed its commitment to upgrading Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to maintain its position as a leading aviation hub. In a related action, the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has ordered the removal of all temporary structures along the James Gichuru Road to JKIA Highway. This directive is in preparation for planned capacity enhancement, landscaping, and beautification works along the highway.
A leading tax expert is urging the separation of expense deductibility from eTIMS compliance, warning that the mandate in the Finance Act 2023 could harm businesses by disallowing legitimate expenses not supported by an electronic invoice by January 1, 2026. Following a High Court ruling that declared a 10 percent import duty on crude palm oil unconstitutional, PwC has advised importers to pursue refunds for the duty paid for the 12-month period ending June 30, 2025. In the education sector, it was revealed that several universities, including the University of Nairobi (UoN) and Moi University, are operating Bachelor of Laws (LLB) programmes with expired or pending license renewals from the Council of Legal Education (CLE), which could risk the recognition of their students' degrees.
