The government is seeking 2 billion Kenyan Shillings to feed 3 million Kenyans affected by drought across 23 counties, with Deputy President Kindiki stating 4 billion shillings will be spent monthly on relief. Meanwhile, the Central Bank of Kenya has cut lending rates to 8.75% to stimulate borrowing, while the Cabinet approved payroll reforms for civil servants. The Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) released cut-off points for university degree courses. A court halted the merger of ECDE and Primary Teacher Education diploma trainings. Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi will visit Russia to discuss formal labour deals. Health reforms were central to the 2026 Governors' Retreat in Kilifi. Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) is also set for safety and security upgrades. Lastly, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) is suing to recover 330 million shillings lost in a CHAN stadium contract.
The Kenyan Cabinet has approved international agreements allowing organizations like the Ford Foundation and the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) to establish offices in Nairobi. The Cabinet also approved a major restructuring of the education sector, which includes merging the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB), the Universities Fund, the TVET Funding Board, and the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) into a single authority. Additionally, comprehensive payroll reforms for civil servants were approved following a special audit of the 2024–2025 financial year. The audit revealed integrity issues and governance failures within the Government Human Resource Information System-Kenya (HRIS-K), and the overhaul aims to ensure uniform application of statutory deductions.
Wiper Patriotic Front Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has declared his readiness to contest the presidency in the 2027 General Election, stating he had shelved his ambitions for 15 years. In other political developments, President William Ruto appointed Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka as his Western region campaign coordinator, placing him at the forefront of high-stakes regional politics. Meanwhile, ahead of President Ruto's tour of Northern Kenya, Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua challenged the president to account for promises made since 2022. Gachagua claims the visit is an early campaign attempt for the 2027 election, rather than a move to address crises like drought and insecurity.
Aviation workers issue a 7-day strike notice over stalled CBA. Meanwhile, M-Pesa users can now buy and sell NSE shares via Ziidi Trader, with Safaricom aiming to boost retail investment. In Lamu, one man earns 30,000 shillings monthly from a thriving coconut waste craft business.
Eric Omondi walks to Mombasa for "Sisi kwa Sisi," while MP Salasya launches a political academy for 2027 aspirants. Media personality Natalie Githinji shares her battle with endometriosis's pain and cost. Esther Musila warns critics, and Prophet Kanyari explains his insult to TikToker Naipei.
Governors threaten to boycott Senate summons over alleged extortion. Meanwhile, Parliament resumes amidst warnings of focus on 2027 polls and party-hopping. Kalonzo declares his 2027 presidential bid as Gachagua challenges Ruto on Northern Kenya promises.
Safaricom boosts Nairobi Sevens with 10 million shillings, as Kenya's U16 rugby stars prepare to shine at the HSBC SVNS 2 event next year. Meanwhile, Kevin Wekesa uses his rugby platform for climate action. In Premier League news, Man City aims for the title amid pressure on other managers, while Chloe Kim calls for compassion after Trump's attack on an Olympian.
NCBA Bank is the first in East & Central Africa to get dual ISO 27001 and 27701 certifications for information security and privacy. Separately, Wimbart has launched "Wimbart Lite" to offer communications support for African startups raising under 1 million US Dollars.
The government seeks 2 billion Kenyan Shillings to feed 3 million Kenyans facing starvation across 23 counties, with Deputy President Kindiki stating 4 billion shillings will be spent monthly on aid. CBK has cut lending rates to 8.75% to stimulate borrowing, while the Cabinet approved payroll reforms for civil servants to address integrity issues. KUCCPS released cut-off points for degree courses for the 2025/2026 academic year. A court halted the merger of ECDE and Primary Teacher Education diploma trainings. Prime Cabinet Secretary Mudavadi will visit Russia to discuss formal labour deals amid concerns over Kenyans being recruited into the Ukraine war. Health reforms were central to the 2026 Governors' Retreat in Kilifi. JKIA is set for upgrades to improve safety and security. EACC is suing to recover 330 million shillings lost in a CHAN stadium contract.
The Council of Governors (CoG) has suspended appearances before the Senate County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC), accusing unnamed members of extortion and using sittings for political witch hunts. The CoG directed governors to suspend appearances before CPAC and limit them before the County Public Investments and Special Funds Committee. Four Senators from the PAC, led by Chair Moses Kajwang, were specifically accused of intimidation and harassment. In response, Senate Speaker Amason Kingi rejected the extortion claims and defended the Senate's constitutional oversight role. CPAC Chairperson Moses Kajwang also fired back at the boycott threat, stating governors cannot dictate the terms of their accountability for public funds.
The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has issued a seven-day eviction notice to all roadside traders along sections of the Thika Superhighway. The directive, announced on February 9, 2026, is to clear the way for the construction of new bus bays at Roysambu and Githurai to improve traffic management and safety. In a separate action related to national roads, the Kenyan government has finalized the payment of verified road construction pending bills up to December 2025. President William Ruto had pledged to address the arrears, and the payments were made possible by the securitization of the Road Maintenance Levy.
The Council of Governors (CoG) is threatening to boycott appearances before the Senate County Public Accounts Committee, alleging harassment and political witch hunts by four senators. Governors are boycotting Senate summons, accusing members of the Senate County Public Accounts (CPAC) and County Public Investments and Special Funds (CPISF) committees of demanding bribes. The CoG is engaged in a public dispute with the committee over governors' appearances before the oversight body. In response, Senate Speaker Amason Kingi rejected the allegations of extortion and intimidation made by the CoG. The Speaker described the claims as "inappropriate" and "unconducive" to intergovernmental cooperation, emphasizing the Senate's constitutional mandate to oversee county revenue use.
Suna East MP Junet Mohammed has been removed as Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition Secretary General, signaling a potential decline in his political standing. Mohammed's political future is now considered uncertain following the loss of patronage from the now-deceased ODM party leader Raila Odinga, under whose wing he entered parliament in 2013. In a separate development within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has called for the expulsion of party Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna and his associates from the party.
The Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) has issued a seven-day strike notice to the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), effective February 9th. The union is protesting a stalled Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), job downgrades, and salary cuts from contract placements. In response, the KCAA has assured the public that aviation services will remain uninterrupted despite the strike threat. In other aviation news, El Al, Israel's national airline, announced the launch of new direct flights from Tel Aviv. The new routes, which include the first-ever direct connection between Israel and the Philippines, will also fly to Manila, Seoul (South Korea), and Hanoi (Vietnam).
Tension is escalating between senators and governors. The Council of Governors (CoG) has threatened to name senators they accuse of demanding bribes during committee meetings and considered boycotting proceedings. The CoG formally wrote to Senate Speaker Amason Kingi regarding serious allegations of extortion within the Senate County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC). In response, Senators dismissed the boycott call, emphasizing that all governors must appear before the committee to ensure accountability for public funds. Following this, governors boycotted Senate sessions concerning the audit of public funds.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has publicly criticized President William Ruto's handling of the ongoing drought crisis. Gachagua specifically targeted the president's response to the drought in northern counties and urged the government to declare the situation a national disaster, emphasizing the need for aid. In addition to the drought, Gachagua also accused President Ruto of being responsible for rampant corruption and plunder in Northern Kenya. These criticisms suggest a potential rift within the country's leadership.
Manchester City aims to intensify the Premier League title race and close the gap on leaders Arsenal to just three points following their victory over Liverpool. Manager Pep Guardiola has emphasized the need for Manchester City to resolve recurring second-half performance dips to sustain their title challenge. Striker Erling Haaland acknowledges the need for personal improvement, despite scoring a crucial stoppage-time winner against Liverpool that kept City within six points of Arsenal. Meanwhile, pressure is mounting on managers in the bottom half of the table, as Tottenham Hotspur head coach Thomas Frank issued a rallying cry for his "desperate" team. Tottenham is aiming to snap a seven-game winless streak, currently sitting in 15th place, six points above the relegation zone.
A lawsuit has been filed seeking to ban President Ruto from holding political meetings at State House, arguing that the practice is an abuse of public resources. A lawyer representing the National Integrity Alliance also filed a petition with the same goal. The legal actions argue that using State House for political activities contravenes constitutional provisions. The petitioner believes these gatherings politicize the presidency and undermine national institutions.
