President Ruto has signed bills decentralizing civil registration, ensuring a birth and death certificate office in each sub-county, and assented to the Pyrethrum Repeal and Social Work Professionals Bills. The government also plans to reclassify MCAs' job groups, potentially increasing their salaries. The Social Health Authority now requires two doctors' approvals for Kenyans seeking overseas treatment if a condition cannot be treated locally. Separately, a postmortem confirmed Vincent Ayomo died from a single gunshot wound at a Kitengela rally. Over 1,000 Kenyans are reportedly fighting for Russia in Ukraine according to NIS, a claim the Russian Embassy denies while stating Kenyans are free to join its armed forces if legally present in Russia.
The Kenyan government has cleared Ksh 177 billion in pending bills owed to road contractors, as announced by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki. This settlement resolves payments that have been outstanding since 2020. The clearance of arrears affects 6,000 kilometers of roads that had stalled, allowing for the resumption of these projects nationwide. Following the payment, contractors are now on notice to strictly adhere to timelines and quality standards. Contractors have been instructed to accelerate work without compromising on quality.
Internal disputes have become public within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) concerning party leadership. Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga challenged the removal of Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna as the party's secretary general, calling the process unprocedural and advocating for internal mediation. In a separate but related development, Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, the ODM National Chairperson, urged residents to reject leaders from the Linda Mwananchi faction. Wanga claims this group, led by Senator Sifuna, intends to push the party into opposition. Additionally, a public dispute has erupted between Ruth Odinga and businessman Oketch Salah over Salah's claims of closeness to the Odinga family and his involvement with Raila Odinga.
Kenya receives 21,000 doses of a new injectable HIV prevention drug, with rollout expected in March. Starlink users face an April 30 ID verification deadline or risk service loss. Globally, YouTube services were restored after an outage, while UK inflation fell due to lower food and fuel costs. A gold rush has begun in South Africa after a lucky find.
MPs rejected a TikTok ban, urging strict regulation to protect users and grow the digital economy. In personal news, Betty Kyallo advised women not to ignore DMs, revealing her relationship with Charlie Jones started that way.
DCI reportedly used Israeli tech for surveillance on activist Boniface Mwangi's phone. Meanwhile, Milimani Court acquitted a student in a cybercrime case, raising concerns about digital rights. NETSCOUT was recognized as a top employer.
President Ruto has signed bills decentralizing civil registration, ensuring a birth and death certificate office in each sub-county, and assented to the Pyrethrum Repeal and Social Work Professionals Bills. The government also plans to reclassify MCAs' job groups, potentially increasing their salaries. Meanwhile, the Social Health Authority now requires two doctors' approvals for Kenyans seeking overseas treatment if a condition cannot be treated locally. In other news, a postmortem confirmed Vincent Ayomo died from a single gunshot wound at a Kitengela rally. Separately, over 1,000 Kenyans are reportedly fighting for Russia in Ukraine according to NIS, a claim the Russian Embassy denies while stating Kenyans are free to join its armed forces if legally present in Russia.
The High Court in Kenya has dismissed petitions challenging the Privatisation Act, 2025. This ruling clears the way for the government to proceed with the sale of stakes in major State-owned enterprises. The decision specifically paves the way for the proposed privatization of the Kenya Pipeline Company Limited (KPC). The court's upholding of the act allows the government to move forward with its multi-billion plan to sell stakes in various state firms.
President William Ruto has signed the Births and Deaths Registration (Amendment) Bill into law. This mandates the establishment of at least one registration office in each of Kenya's 290 sub-counties to improve access to essential documents. The President assented to the bill at State House, Nairobi, where he also signed two other significant bills. These included the Pyrethrum Repeal Bill 2024 and the Social Work Professionals Bill 2023. These new laws aim to streamline agricultural sectors and professionalize social work in the country.
A National Intelligence Service (NIS) report revealed that over 1,000 Kenyans are reportedly fighting for Russia in the Russia-Ukraine war. The findings, presented in Parliament, suggest some were enticed by high salaries and promises of Russian citizenship. In response, the Russian Embassy in Nairobi denied the allegations of recruiting Kenyans, calling the claims "dangerous and misleading propaganda." The embassy stated that Kenyans are free to join its armed forces if they are legally present in Russia. Kenya's DCI also reportedly uncovered a network facilitating recruitment.
The United Opposition alliance, led by Kalonzo Musyoka and Rigathi Gachagua, announced it will hold multiple rallies in Nairobi starting Sunday. The alliance has cancelled a planned march to the Inspector General of Police’s office, which was scheduled for Friday. Instead, the opposition intends to initiate private prosecutions against twelve police officers. The legal action also targets two unnamed Members of Parliament implicated in the Witima ACK Church attack. The opposition accuses Inspector General Douglas Kanja of obstructing justice in the investigation.
Two significant oil spills involving substantial leaks of jet fuel recently occurred at U.S. military bases in South Korea, prompting investigations and containment efforts. In geopolitics, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused the United States of attempting to exclude Russia from global energy markets. Lavrov highlighted sanctions against Russian oil companies and demands for other nations to cease purchasing Russian oil as evidence. In the U.S., the toy industry remains wary due to lingering uncertainty over trade policy and tariffs. Many firms are anxiously awaiting a Supreme Court decision that could impact their profits.
The Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC), Huawei Kenya, and the Ministry of ICT conducted a four-day Data Privacy and Data Protection training for 200 youth in Wajir County to mark Safer Internet Day. In a separate development, the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) announced it is developing a new, centralized, cloud-based ID-to-SIM Card Checker. This new system aims to replace the current fragmented system for verifying SIM card ownership. Additionally, an investigation by Techish Kenya has debunked the 'Fuliza excuse' commonly used for withholding M-PESA funds sent in error. The investigation confirmed that Safaricom's system automatically unwinds these transactions, even if a Fuliza overdraft has already debited the money.
CS Kithure Kindiki has promised comprehensive food relief to residents of Kajiado County who are grappling with a severe drought that has impacted livelihoods. In Isiolo County, two consecutive failed rainy seasons have left pastoralists facing significant challenges, with an expected influx of livestock from neighboring counties threatening to cause conflicts over pasture and water. The severe drought conditions are also a factor in an unfolding eviction crisis at the Mutara ADC settlement, which is escalating tensions in the area. Food vendors in Limuru market also report a significant increase in the prices of various food items.
President Ruto has defended a cooperation deal concerning Nairobi, highlighting its importance for national development. Despite previous intentions to impeach Nairobi Governor Sakaja, a majority of ward representatives have now declared their support for him and his collaboration with President William Ruto. COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli also publicly endorsed the agreement between the Nairobi County Government and the National Government, believing it is crucial for development. However, the deal faces opposition as two Nairobi residents have filed a lawsuit seeking to nullify the cooperation agreement signed yesterday. The agreement has sparked discussions about whether it signifies a surrender of power to the state.
Bonfire Adventures CEO Simon Kabu announced on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, that he is “officially and legally single” following the finalization of his divorce from Sarah Mtalii. Following this, the entrepreneur garnered online praise for publicly defending his former wife. In separate public discussions on relationships, media personality Betty Kyallo advised women not to ignore direct messages (DMs), revealing her own relationship with partner Charlie Jones began with a casual message. Additionally, digital creator Miss Choice (Choice Gatwiri) defended her rapid romance with a mzungu man, which she stated began as a chance encounter at an airport.
Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen has issued a stern warning about the escalating problem of political incitement, highlighting its grave danger to public order. He revealed that police have been actively pursuing individuals responsible for such acts. Murkomen announced he will confront individuals inciting tribalism and rejects being identified by his Kalenjin ethnicity, urging leaders to focus on their manifestos. On the topic of leadership, Murkomen stated that a leader's past actions should be examined before they can lecture others, specifically mentioning allegations of stealing a former president's goats.
The 57th Magical Kenya Open (MKO) has teed off at Karen Golf and Country Club in Nairobi, with Njoroge Kibugu leading Kenya's 18-player squad. Players are competing for a Sh62 million top prize out of a total Sh348 million purse. The tournament, presented by Absa, kicked off with a Pro-Am event that allowed hundreds of Kenyan amateur golfers to play alongside professionals. In other golf news, the Kenya Golf Union (KGU) has announced a strong ten-man amateur team to represent the country at the 2026 Victoria Cup. The tournament is scheduled for March 3-8 at Entebbe Golf Club in Uganda, where the team, led by John Lejirma, aims to reclaim the title.
Deputy President Professor Kithure Kindiki has assured that all stalled road projects will be completed this year after the government released KSh 177 billion to contractors. After a 30-year wait, the 66km Taita–Kajiado road is now set for construction, as announced by the Deputy President. He also promised residents of Taita Taveta County that the Taveta–Ilasit road will be completed by December. Kindiki stated that as Deputy President, it is his responsibility to supervise development projects and ensure their delivery to citizens.
