Kenya and the United States have launched a Ksh9.1 billion runway expansion project at Kenya Navy Base Manda Bay in Lamu, aiming to significantly enhance regional peace and security operations.

• The project involves constructing a new 10,000-foot runway, nearly tripling the existing facility's length, with an expected completion in mid-2027.
• Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau presided over the groundbreaking ceremony on January 29.
• The expansion will allow the base to handle larger aircraft, crucial for combating extremism and responding to regional crises, strengthening the strategic partnership between the two nations following Kenya's designation as a Major Non-NATO Ally in 2024.

The Kenya Electricity Transmission Company Limited (KETRACO), in partnership with the State Department of Energy, has energized the new Sondu-Ndhiwa-Homa Bay-Awendo 132kV transmission line to significantly reduce power outages and improve electricity supply in Nyanza and parts of Western Kenya. This development aims to relieve pressure on the existing grid and support growing electricity demands.

• The new line has reduced the load on the Muhoroni-Chemosit corridor from 68MW to 40MW, with Sondu now supplying 27MW to Ndhiwa.
• The project was implemented by the State Department of Energy under PS Alex Kamau Wachira, with coordination led by Interior PS Raymond Omollo.
• The energization is expected to provide more reliable electricity to residents and businesses in Ndhiwa, Awendo, and Homa Bay, addressing years of intermittent outages.
• Western Kenya contributes 250 MW to the national grid and this expansion will ease network congestion and improve voltage quality for the region.

The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) and the National Police Service (NPS) are piloting a digital ID system for boda boda riders in Nairobi. This initiative aims to regulate the motorcycle transport sector, addressing public and motorist concerns about traffic violations and criminal activities.

• The pilot will issue unique identification numbers to register all motorcyclists, separate from their vehicle's number plate, enabling authorities to track riders and their operations.
• Boniface Otieno, an NPS Traffic Department liaison in Nairobi, stated the new system will be strictly enforced, promising intensified crackdowns on riders violating traffic laws, such as pavement riding.
• The initiative is a response to threats from the Matatu Owners Association (MOA) and Motorists Association to protest against rogue riders.
• The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) is supporting efforts to tackle bribery among traffic officers, with Inspector General Douglas Kanja authorizing an internal operations unit to address such misconduct.
• The sector supports approximately 1.6 million riders, including nearly 1.3 million young people, according to the Boda Boda Safety Association of Kenya (BAK).

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) is upgrading its cargo monitoring system to incorporate user-owned electronic seals for both dry and wet cargo. This enhancement to the existing Regional Electronic Cargo Tracking System (RECTS) aims to further improve cross-border trade efficiency and security within the East African Community (EAC).

• The new system will utilize multi-vendor, user-owned e-seals for real-time tracking and tamper detection.
• KRA has invited the public and seal vendors to a virtual sensitisation meeting on Wednesday, February 4, 2026.
• This development follows the launch of the new eCUSTOMS app, a joint initiative by Kenya and the UK, designed to digitize customs declarations and reduce delays at border posts.