June 29 - July 5, 2026
Top Kenya news stories for the week of Monday, June 29 to Sunday, July 5, 2026, organized by weekday.
Monday
June 29
Missing Activist Davis Lichuma Found Alive at KNH After Alleged Abduction - June 2026
Missing activist Davis Lichuma has been found alive at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) after allegedly being abducted and tortured following recent protests. Kenyan police had been investigating his disappearance, which occurred during the June 25 protests in Nairobi, with five other protesters claiming they were tortured while in police custody. The National Police Service (NPS) had confirmed receipt of a missing person report for Lichuma amid growing allegations of enforced disappearances. Separate reports indicate fears are mounting over the disappearance of four other activists in Kenya, raising concerns about their safety and implications for human rights advocacy in the country.
Lawyer moves to court to stop NTSA's mandatory vehicle inspection law - June 2026
A Nairobi advocate has filed a constitutional petition in the High Court seeking to halt the National Transport and Safety Authority's (NTSA) new mandatory vehicle inspection regulations, scheduled to take effect on July 1. The regulations, requiring annual inspections for private vehicles manufactured more than four years old, sparked significant public and political outcry. The NTSA has since announced a temporary reprieve for private motorists, school transport operators, and commercial vehicle operators regarding these inspection rules.
Ruto Allies Splurge Millions on ‘Empowerment’ Drives Ahead of 2027 - June 2026
Several high-profile allies of President William Ruto have been extensively spending millions of shillings on weekend 'economic empowerment' drives, which critics suggest are thinly veiled political mobilization efforts for the upcoming 2027 General Election. In Western Kenya, Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya has formed a political alliance with DAP-Kenya leader Eugene Wamalwa and ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna to consolidate the Western Kenya vote bloc for the opposition, aiming to deny President Ruto a significant portion of votes from the region. Meanwhile, a public fallout between President William Ruto and Kanu chairman Gideon Moi is creating ripples in the Rift Valley, potentially reshaping alliances and impacting the 2027 General Election. Additionally, several prominent Kenyan politicians, including Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro and figures within the ODM party, are facing pressure to publicly declare their allegiance ahead of the 2027 General Election.