The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) is set to rebuild and realign the dangerous Nithi Bridge along the Makutano-Embu-Meru highway (A9) in Tharaka-Nithi County, a move expected to significantly boost the local economy and improve road safety.

• The project targets a section of the road long identified as a high-risk accident blackspot.
• Key organizations involved include KeNHA and local administrators, with local traders and youth expressing optimism for job creation.
• The A9 highway serves as a critical economic link, and the reconstruction is anticipated to improve traffic flow, renew investor confidence, and solidify economic ties between regional markets.

Kenya's public debt interest payments are projected to reach a concerning Sh1.2 trillion by the fiscal year 2026/27, threatening to significantly reduce funds available for development spending.

• The Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) warns that rising debt interest payments could crowd out essential development initiatives.
• Interest payments are estimated to consume over 25 percent of the total budget in the current fiscal year 2025/26, amounting to Sh1.1 trillion.
• The PBO also highlighted inefficiencies in development expenditure absorption, with actual spending lagging behind allocated budgets despite overall budget increases.