Kenya's Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok has directed school heads and education officials to implement proactive measures to curb rising unrest in schools, particularly during the crucial second term.

• Bitok urged for early detection of warning signs to prevent school closures.
• The directive was issued during a virtual meeting with various education stakeholders, including high school principals and regional/county education directors.
• Key triggers for unrest identified include poor communication between students and management, harsh discipline, and examination pressures.

Magereza Academy in Naivasha has been closed indefinitely following a dormitory fire that occurred on Wednesday, May 13. Four students have been arrested in connection with the incident.

• Property worth thousands of shillings was destroyed in the blaze.
• The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Nakuru County made the arrests based on CCTV footage.
• The school, with over 800 students, was closed to prevent interference with investigations and due to insufficient dormitory capacity.

The Kenya Bankers Association (KBA) is advocating for a unified 5% reduction in Pay As You Earn (PAYE) taxes across all income brackets to stimulate the Kenyan economy.

• A 5% PAYE reduction could inject approximately Ksh28 billion annually into the economy.
• The proposal is led by KBA CEO Raimond Molenje, aiming to boost household spending and support MSMEs.
• This push comes as real incomes have declined by 10.7% to 12% in five years, while the government is considering a PAYE cut for those earning Ksh30,000 or less.