Kenya News - January 28, 2026 | Daily Summary - The Online Kenyan
Daily Summary
Kenya News - January 28, 2026
Activists are petitioning to block the government's 204.3 billion Kenyan Shillings Safaricom shares sale to Vodacom over undervaluation. Matatu operators plan a nationwide strike due to attacks by boda boda operators. President Ruto seeks a court ruling on the legal status of party manifestos and affirmed his commitment to upholding court orders, despite recent criticism of the Judiciary. Health CS Duale announced permanent jobs for UHC workers from July 2026, while the government plans to waive birth/death certificate fees. Senators are considering halting Treasury transfers to counties defying oversight. Thousands of Kenyans face uncertainty as UN agencies downsize, potentially impacting Nairobi's UN hub status. Education CS Ogamba announced plans to arrest senior officers involved in unlawful school fee scandals.
The Ministry of Health plans to recover 11 billion Kenyan Shillings lost to fake claims by the Social Health Authority. Meanwhile, the Agriculture Ministry has issued a 30-day ultimatum to maize farmers to release hoarded grain or face duty-free imports, as the High Court ruled the government isn't liable for 1998 bomb blast victims. Land and house prices in Nairobi's Karen, Runda, and Lavington continue to rise, driven by wealthy buyers. Cybersecurity is now the top risk for ईस्ट African banks, according to PwC.
entertainment
4 stories
Digital creator Useful Idioty clashed with Oga Obinna's security, sparking online debate. Meanwhile, Maureen Ngigi denied reconciling with her ex, Commentator 254. Gospel artist Guardian Angel clarified that building a church doesn't mean he's becoming a pastor.
politics
10 stories
Gachagua faces church attacks amid power struggles. IEBC defers boundary review for 2027 polls. Speaker Wetang'ula warns over 56% of MPs may lose seats, advising pension plans. ODM faces internal dissent and potential UDA coalition jitters. Senators may withhold funds from non-compliant governors.
sports
2 stories
Counties are holding novice boxing trials this weekend to select teams for the national championships, building on previous trials. Meanwhile, Njoroge Kibugu has climbed into Africa's top 100 golfers at position 96 after excelling in the Sunshine Development Tour.
top
10 stories
Activists are petitioning to block the government's 204.3 billion Kenyan Shillings Safaricom shares sale to Vodacom, citing undervaluation and transparency concerns. Matatu operators plan a nationwide strike due to persistent attacks by boda boda operators. President Ruto seeks a court ruling on the legal status of party manifestos in policy implementation. The President recently criticized the Judiciary for blocking government projects but later affirmed his administration's commitment to upholding court orders. Health CS Duale announced that UHC workers will get permanent jobs from July 2026. The government plans to waive birth/death certificate fees and decentralize services. Senators are considering halting Treasury transfers to counties defying oversight. Thousands of Kenyans face uncertainty as UN agencies downsize, potentially impacting Nairobi's status as a UN hub. Education CS Ogamba announced plans to arrest senior officers involved in unlawful school fee scandals.
January 28, 2026
No newer news
Read Coverage
3 stories
Read Coverage
4 stories
Read Coverage
An audit by Kenya's Ministry of Health has revealed that the Social Health Authority (SHA) lost Sh11 billion due to fraudulent claims from private hospitals. Separately, Tower Sacco revealed a loss of Sh149.5 million in cash deposits held at the embattled Kenya Union of Savings and Credit Cooperatives (KUSCCO) amid a mismanagement scandal. In other financial news, Moody’s Ratings has upgraded Kenya’s sovereign credit rating from B3 to Caa1, reflecting a decline in the country’s near-term default risk. Additionally, Kenya is funding the rehabilitation of the Mombasa Road with Sh4.5 billion from securitised Roads Maintenance Levy (RML) funds, part of a larger Sh21 billion allocation.
C
N
Read Stories
T
T
Read Stories
Kenyan Personalities Address Controversies and Personal Stories on Digital Media - January 2026
Digital content creator Useful Idioty was involved in an altercation with Vicer Munez, a member of Oga Obinna’s security team, with a video of the incident going viral on Instagram. In a separate social media event, content creator Maureen Ngigi definitively shut down speculation about reconciling with her ex-boyfriend, Commentator 254, during a Q&A session. Award-winning gospel artist Guardian Angel also used a digital platform, posting an Instagram video on January 27, 2026, to clarify that he has no plans to become a pastor despite building a church. Additionally, Raymond Omosa, known as Kenyan Prince, discussed his rags-to-riches journey on the Iko Nini podcast, addressing his wealth as a reflection of his past struggles.
Two victims of a shooting at a Kitengela club are demanding justice and an independent investigation, alleging a potential police cover-up. The incident occurred three days ago, and one victim remains in critical condition at Kajiado referral hospital. The victims are urging police to promptly act against those responsible. Separately, a family in Makueni County is demanding an investigation into alleged police brutality that led to the death of their 28-year-old relative. The family claims he was released unconscious from a local police station after being brutalized.
C
Read Stories
UPS is set to cut up to 30,000 jobs this year as it reduces its reliance on unprofitable Amazon deliveries as part of a new strategy. In a separate event, Amazon accidentally sent an email confirming a new round of global layoffs to employees, revealing job cuts in the US, Canada, and Costa Rica. The draft email, titled "Project Dawn," was shared by mistake before an official announcement. Amid these industry shifts, Cisco Systems chief executive Chuck Robbins has warned that while the AI boom will be "bigger than the internet," there will be "carnage along the way," comparing the current market to the dotcom bubble.
C
Read Stories
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has announced his intention to reveal those responsible for the violence witnessed at the ACK Witima Church. This follows an uproar after a recent teargassing incident at a church service in Nyeri attended by Gachagua, which was strongly condemned by Bishops from the United Clergy Alliance. The bishops emphasized the sacred nature of an altar. Following recent incidents of unrest, Transport CS Murkomen has vowed to ensure that violence will not be witnessed again in places of worship.
N
C
Read Stories
Reigning Football Kenya Federation Women’s Premier League champions Kenya Police Bullets FC maintained their leading position after a 1-0 victory over Zetech University Sparks. In polo, Veuve Cliquot won the Soldier’s Salute Championships by defeating Pure Travel with a 4-3.5 victory ahead of the upcoming Chairman's Cup at the Nairobi Polo Club. Meanwhile, in swimming, Pro Swim Academy Kenya and USIU-A Dolphins Swim Club dominated the Nairobi County Swimming Association (NCSA) 12 years and over Level One Swimming Gala. The event was held at Kiota School, where Pro Swim led the men’s table and USIU-A Dolphins excelled in the women’s contest.
S
Read Stories
Two Turkish citizens have been detained in Kenya on suspicion of terrorism financing. A court in Mombasa has ordered the extended detention of the two Turkish nationals for an additional five days, a decision stemming from an ongoing investigation into alleged terror financing activities. In a separate security incident, teachers in Garissa have issued an ultimatum to the Teachers Service Commission (TSC). The ultimatum follows an Al Shabaab attack on Hulughu School. This incident underscores the persistent security challenges affecting education in the region.
Pornhub will restrict access for UK users starting next week, citing the country's tougher age verification requirements under the Online Safety Act (OSA). In the United States, TikTok US has pushed back against claims of censoring content, attributing issues to technical glitches. However, California Governor Gavin Newsom has announced an investigation into allegations of the platform suppressing content critical of the Trump administration. Highlighting increasing digital vulnerabilities, a PwC survey for 2025 found that cybersecurity has emerged as the most significant risk for banks in East Africa as digital banking accelerates.
C
Read Stories
Kenyan families are demanding government intervention to repatriate relatives from the Russia-Ukraine war frontline. They are appealing to the government for assistance to bring their loved ones back home. The pleas come as their relatives are reportedly stranded or perishing in the ongoing conflict. Some of the relatives have either died or are still alive after being recruited into the Russian army. The families are seeking assistance to bring their kin home from the war.