March 16 - March 22, 2026
Top Kenya news stories for the week of Monday, March 16 to Sunday, March 22, 2026, organized by weekday.
Monday
March 16
Sakaja Orders 48-Hour Action Plan to Tackle Flooding and Infrastructure Damage - March 2026
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has ordered an immediate 48-hour action plan to address severe flooding, drainage issues, and damaged roads across the city following heavy rains. The UN-Habitat has committed to supporting the Kenyan government in responding to devastating flash floods that have impacted Nairobi, creating significant humanitarian and urban management challenges. The death toll from recent floods has risen to 66 as search and rescue operations continue, with four more bodies recovered on Sunday. Meanwhile, residents of Buruburu estate in Nairobi have been without reliable water supply for two weeks due to the flooding, while heavy rainfall has also caused the Narok River to overflow, impacting the Lemurua Loitai area.
SHA Begins Ksh11.1B Disbursement to Settle Health Claims - March 2026
The Social Health Authority has begun disbursing Ksh11.1 billion to healthcare providers to settle claims under the Social Health Insurance Fund, with payments commencing on Friday, March 13 and continuing throughout the week aiming for full settlement by Thursday, March 19. The Kenyan government has significantly boosted its oncology treatment package under SHA, raising the coverage from Ksh550,000 to Ksh800,000 per patient. Separately, Supreme Court Judge Justice Isaac Lenaola has urged law schools to enhance legal education by hiring former judges and experienced advocates, emphasizing the critical need for ethical practices within the legal profession.
Kenya, Russia Agree to End Recruitment of Kenyans into Military - March 2026
Kenya and Russia have reached an agreement to halt the recruitment of Kenyan citizens for military operations, as announced by Kenya's Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi during a joint press conference in Moscow on Monday, March 16. Meanwhile, Kenya has dispatched a high-level delegation to Moscow in an urgent effort to repatriate Kenyan citizens reportedly caught up in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. African nations are adopting a cautious approach to the recruitment of their citizens by Russian networks for the war in Ukraine, balancing domestic pressure with foreign policy considerations.