President Ruto announced tax cuts for low-income earners, while banks pushed for a uniform 5% PAYE reduction. The government launched the multi-billion Mau Summit-Malaba Road upgrade and revamped its civil servant car loan scheme. Bomet University is now Kenya's 36th public university, and Ruto launched the NYOTA project in Malindi to disburse funds in Kilifi, Tana River, and Lamu counties. The President also met over 12,000 UDA aspirants, promising fair primaries. Separately, Nairobi County and NEMA were ordered to pay 25.8 million shillings to Dandora waste pickers for pollution, and Cofek warned against Kenya Pipeline's IPO due to a legal challenge.
The Sultanate of Oman has issued a strong warning to Kenyans against using unofficial channels for employment, clarifying that tourist visas cannot be used for work after numerous Kenyans were defrauded. This comes as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs estimates over 200 Kenyans have been deceptively recruited to fight for Russia since 2022, highlighted by the death of a Kenyan soldier. In business, the Consumers Federation of Kenya (Cofek) has warned potential investors against the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) Initial Public Offering due to an ongoing legal challenge scheduled for February 19. Separately, following a ruling by the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC), Kenyans are being warned that recording someone's voice without their consent is a criminal offense that could lead to serious legal consequences.
The Environment and Land Court has ordered Nairobi County Government and the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) to pay Ksh25.8 million to 1,032 waste pickers at the Dandora dumpsite. The court found that prolonged air pollution at the dumpsite violated the pickers’ constitutional rights. In a separate case, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Renson Ingonga has urged the Court of Appeal to reject attempts by Rashmi Chamanlal Kamani and Deepak Kumar Kamani to delay the ongoing Anglo Leasing corruption trial, emphasizing the need for justice to proceed. Additionally, Nandi Senator Kiprotich Cherargei denounced the transfer of senior police officers implicated in the Nandi Hills assault case as a "travesty of justice," calling for disciplinary action and criminal prosecution instead.
President William Ruto is scheduled to launch the NYOTA project in Malindi, overseeing the disbursement of funds to beneficiaries in Kilifi, Tana River, and Lamu Counties. He oversaw the disbursement of Sh126 million to 5,040 young entrepreneurs under the NYOTA Programme's Business Start-Up Capital component. This initial support provides Sh25,000 per beneficiary, with Sh22,000 designated for business and Sh3,000 for NSGF savings. Amid criticism from opposition leaders, the World Bank has publicly defended Kenya's National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (Nyota) programme. The global lender asserts its support for the initiative as an "innovative, inclusive and transparent way to deal with unemployment among the youth" in Kenya.
Hussein Marjan, the longest-serving senior official at the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), has left the agency after more than a decade of service. His departure, described as a “termination by mutual consent,” marks the third consecutive CEO to leave the position prematurely, less than two years before the 2027 elections. The exit is reportedly surrounded by controversy and has raised questions about the IEBC's credibility. This development comes amidst ongoing scrutiny over a controversial contract with voting technology provider Smartmatic. In connection with this, the IEBC announced it has not extended Smartmatic's contract. IEBC Chairman Erastus Ethekon stated Marjan's exit was "in the best interest of the nation" but did not confirm if it was linked to the KIEMS kits contract.
A Kenyan parliamentary committee has approved the sale of a 15% government stake in Safaricom PLC to raise Sh204.3 billion for critical infrastructure development. The sale aims to ease pressure on public finances as only Sh29.8 billion was available for development in the 2025/26 financial year. In separate infrastructure initiatives, the National Treasury and KeNHA have begun plans for the upgrade of the Mau Summit–Eldoret–Malaba Road PPP project. Following online discussions, the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) defended its investment in the Rironi–Nakuru–Mau Summit highway project, stating that contributors' savings are safe. Meanwhile, Treasury CS John Mbadi defended the controversial National Infrastructure Fund in court after the High Court suspended its operation.
Parliament approved the sale of a 15% stake in Safaricom worth 204.3 billion Kenyan Shillings for infrastructure. Treasury CS Mbadi defended the National Infrastructure Fund in court. Kenyan businesses welcomed the AGOA extension to 2026, boosting exports and jobs.
Miracle Baby is back to music after splitting from Carol Katrue. Rotimi denies breakup rumours with Vanessa Mdee. Harmonize proposed to Kajala Frida, while Laura Mbatha shared her controversial dating preference for men without parents. Andrew Kibe plans to meet Alicia Kanini.
IEBC faces a leadership crisis as CEO Hussein Marjan exits, the third consecutive CEO to leave prematurely ahead of the 2027 elections. Meanwhile, President Ruto assures UDA aspirants of free and fair nominations for the upcoming general election.
Kabras Sugar remains unbeaten in Kenya Cup with a 48-13 win over Kenya Harlequin, while MMUST and Impala boost survival hopes. Gor Mahia extends their lead in the SportPesa Premier League after beating Sofapaka 3-0. Manchester United's Sesko scores late to beat Fulham 3-2.
Old Mutual partners with Paystack to boost digital payments for insurance and investment platforms in East Africa, aiming for faster, secure online & mobile options. LG Electronics' CEO outlines a strategy for growth, innovation, and profitability.
President Ruto announced tax cuts for low-income earners, with banks urging a uniform 5% PAYE reduction across all brackets. The government also kicked off the multi-billion Mau Summit-Malaba Road upgrade project. In education, Bomet University became Kenya's 36th public university, while Ruto launched the NYOTA project in Malindi to disburse funds to beneficiaries in Kilifi, Tana River, and Lamu counties, aimed at tackling unemployment. The President also hosted over 12,000 UDA aspirants, promising fair primaries. Meanwhile, Nairobi County and NEMA were ordered to pay 25.8 million shillings to Dandora waste pickers for air pollution, and Cofek warned Kenyans against Kenya Pipeline's IPO due to a legal challenge. The government is also revamping its civil servant car loan scheme.
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has accused former President Uhuru Kenyatta of making irregular changes to the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition leadership. ODM states that Mr. Kenyatta lacks the authority to appoint or dismiss coalition officials without a properly constituted council meeting. This conflict arises as ODM's attempts to form a new alliance with President William Ruto's United Democratic Alliance (UDA) are complicated by its legally binding affiliation with the Azimio coalition. Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir defended recent leadership decisions within ODM, insisting all resolutions were reached unanimously and according to the party's constitution. Nassir also addressed the party's leadership structure following Raila Odinga's pursuit of the AU position.
The transition from Kenya's 8-4-4 education system to the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBE) is facing significant challenges, primarily due to insufficient resources. A lack of infrastructure and training equipment is hindering education in many public schools across the country. Some schools in Mombasa are specifically facing challenges in acquiring the necessary resources to implement the CBE. In Eldoret, stakeholders have expressed great concern about the high costs required to carry out the CBE system. Residents of Nairobi are also voicing their opinions regarding the CBE education system.
President William Ruto has endorsed a proposal from the National Treasury to exempt 1.5 million low-earning Kenyans from Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) tax. An estimated 2 million Kenyans are set to benefit from tax relief under the new tax law changes. This development aims to provide economic alleviation to a significant portion of the population. The new tax changes are expected to impact salaries across the nation.
President William Ruto visited Kilifi County to launch the NYOTA plan. During the launch, the President criticized his political opponents, asserting that government projects like NYOTA are tangible and delivering results. Separately, World Bank Country Director Qimiao Fan lauded the NYOTA initiative as a crucial program set to tackle Kenya's most significant development challenges. Fan emphasized the program's innovative, inclusive, and transparent approach to scaling up vital solutions.
