The National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) has arrested 13 proprietors in Kitui County for operating businesses, including hotels, hospitals, and petrol stations, without the mandatory environmental licences.

• 13 facility owners arrested in Kitui County.
• NEMA is conducting nationwide crackdowns on businesses breaching environmental regulations.
• Violations include failing to treat wastewater and obtain an Effluent Discharge Licence, contravening the Water Quality Regulations 2024.

Environmental activists and civil society groups are strongly opposing a proposed amendment to Kenya’s Forest Conservation and Management Act, 2016. They argue the changes could permit infrastructure and commercial developments within protected public forests.

• The proposed amendment seeks to grant the Kenya Forest Service powers to approve easements for roads, utilities, and infrastructure projects within public forests.
• Key organizations like the Green Belt Movement (GBM) have condemned the proposal as a "dangerous legal pathway" that could lead to encroachment and destruction of forests.
• Recent legal battles, such as the one to prevent the expansion of Kiambu Road into Karura Forest, highlight concerns about preserving sensitive ecosystems from development.

Huduma Kenya has extended working hours at 20 select centres across the country to 7 am to 7 pm, aiming to improve service delivery and reduce congestion.

• The extended hours are specifically designed to accommodate citizens who find it difficult to access services during standard working hours, such as employed Kenyans and business owners.
• Key services offered include KRA tax filing, National ID collection, smart driving licence processing, and passport services support.
• This initiative by Huduma Kenya allows more time for Kenyans to access critical government services, especially as deadlines for tax filing approach.