Global Affairs
Tanzania’s CCM dominance threatens political diversity, warns analyst
The analyst added that President Samia’s leadership presents a unique chance to strengthen Tanzania’s democratic culture.
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News
Kenya’s energy shortage delays plans for global-standard data centres, says Ruto
While agreements with international technology firms like Microsoft and UAE-based artificial intelligence company G42 were already signed, the nation currently lacks the capacity to operate these massive facilities.
News
Governors seek 10pc quota and service funds in housing rollout
The push by governors adds a new layer to the national housing agenda, which is one of the key pillars of the current administration. They say the model, as it stands, puts counties at a disadvantage because they part with valuable land but do not get a clear return once the housing units are completed and handed over to private owners.
News
PSC cautions civil servants against political engagement before by-elections
Speaking on Wednesday, PSC Vice Chairperson Mary Kimonye stressed that neutrality in executing official duties is mandatory and that public officers must comply with laws regulating elections and political involvement.
News
Weatherman forecasts heavy November rains in western Kenya
However, the weather pattern is not uniform across the country. KMD forecasts near to below-average or depressed rainfall in the Highlands East of the Rift Valley (including Nairobi), Southeastern lowlands, Coastal areas, and most parts of the Northeast, where communities could face water shortages and poor crop performance.
News
Security gains as gangs fall and boda boda violence curbed, Murkomen reports
Murkomen explained that while the boda boda sector has become a major source of employment for youths nationwide, insufficient regulation has caused disorder and insecurity due to unregistered riders and lack of accountability.
News
Ruto: Over 600 rogue labour agencies have been closed to protect Kenyans abroad
Addressing Kenyans in the diaspora in Doha, Qatar, during the United Nations Social Development Summit, Ruto said the government is streamlining labour deployment to ensure dignity and fairness for all workers.
Crime
Nairobi-worker fined Sh8.5 million for using fake KCSE certificate
The EACC disclosed that since 2022, it has investigated 549 cases of fraudulent academic and professional credentials. Of these, 85 files have been forwarded for prosecution, and 13 convictions recorded. The 2023-24 national audit further revealed that among 168,000 officers across 358 institutions, 859 individuals held fake academic certificates, while 160 had fraudulent professional credentials.
News
FAO raises alarm on worsening soil loss and falling food output
The State of Food and Agriculture 2025 report paints a worrying picture of land exhaustion spreading across continents, describing the situation as a growing crisis that weakens farms, harms livelihoods and endangers future harvests.
Business
Global fertiliser spike threatens to lift Kenya’s food bills
According to the World Bank’s October 2025 Commodity Markets Outlook, fertiliser prices have climbed by roughly 19 to 21 percent compared to the same period last year. Unlike energy, metals and food commodities that are showing signs of easing, fertiliser costs continue to move upward, creating a worrying gap for food-producing nations that rely heavily on imports.
Business
Kenya–UK trade reaches historic Sh340 billion mark
The report highlights that the surge was driven by a notable increase in both exports and imports. UK shipments to Kenya rose by eight percent, while Kenya’s exports to the UK expanded by 14 percent. During this period, Kenya exported goods valued at Sh63 billion (£371 million) and services worth Sh71.5 billion (£421 million) to the UK.
Business
Government unveils fresh Sh175bn bond to clear road debts and revive works
Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi said the bond issue will build on a bridge financing programme worth Sh104 billion that government completed recently to help ease liquidity pressures faced by road firms. Out of that amount, Sh93 billion has already been distributed to contractors, allowing many stalled projects to resume and speeding up work at sites that had nearly been abandoned.
Education and Career
Tunza Mtoto demands full release of ghost student audit report
The verification process, launched in early September 2025, came after a special audit by the Office of the Auditor General uncovered serious irregularities in the education sector. That audit showed that 33 fictitious schools had received billions of shillings over the past four years. By the end of October, the Ministry reported finding roughly 50,000 ghost students from a sample of 12,000 public schools.
Business
DStv, GOtv decoder prices drop in fresh bid to win back viewers
The high-definition DStv Zapper decoder will now be sold at Sh850, down from Sh1,199, while the GOtv decoder price drops to Sh799 from Sh999. The company says the new rates are designed to reward loyalty and attract new subscribers who may have been locked out due to upfront costs.
Business
Sh153bn state loans raise alarm as audit exposes repayment failures
The Auditor-General’s report, submitted to the National Assembly Committee on Public Debt and Privatisation, revealed that several loans were issued without involving the Department of Government Investment and Public Enterprises, which is mandated to participate in the lending process.
News
EALA MP Karobia urges Tanzania to prioritize nation-building
Karobia praised reforms aimed at strengthening the independence of Tanzania’s electoral body, now called the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), describing the changes as progress for democracy.
Global Affairs
Hinduja empire faces transition as patriarch GP dies at 85
The billionaire leader of the Hinduja family, known simply as GP, spent decades shaping the group into one of the most influential business dynasties in both Britain and India.
Crime
Stolen items recovered in Turkana burglary as three suspects held
The National Police Service confirmed that all seized items were identified by the owners and are now held as official exhibits. The suspects are awaiting arraignment, with investigations ongoing to ensure that all involved are brought to justice.
News
MPs, Senators reach deal to free Sh70.6 billion for counties
Legislators have now agreed to release Sh70.6 billion in extra allocations for the 2025/26 financial year, clearing the way for stalled county programmes to restart and easing concerns from governors over halted development plans and pending obligations.
Global Affairs
Israel confirms body returned by Hamas as US-Israeli soldier Itay Chen
Chen remains were brought back to Israel on Tuesday through the Red Cross, as part of a temporary truce agreement brokered last month. The transfer followed a search in the Shejaiya area of Gaza City, where Hamas said the body had been recovered. Israeli forces still operate in parts of that zone and had permitted access for the search
Education and Career
Government sets Sh53,554 uniform annual fee for senior boarding schools
Parents must be consulted before any extra levies are introduced, while Boards of Management are required to ensure proper use of resources and give annual financial reports to parents. Schools must also offer bursaries or scholarships to support needy learners.
Business
Shift to local borrowing deepens as Kenya’s debt exceeds Sh12 trillion
National Treasury records indicate the country’s total public debt reached Sh12.06 trillion in September 2025. Of this, Sh6.66 trillion was sourced locally while Sh5.39 trillion came from external lenders, placing the debt level at 67.3 per cent of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product.
Top Stories
Historic Mamdani victory sets stage for high-stakes leadership test
Mamdani’s win is historic on several fronts — he will be the first Muslim to lead the city, the first mayor born in Africa, and the youngest elected since 1892. When he entered the contest, he had no strong party backing, no major donors and very little visibility.
Global Affairs
Cebu reels as Typhoon Kalmaegi kills 52 and leaves towns underwater
The storm, known locally as Tino, brought strong winds and heavy rainfall that triggered dangerous flash floods, destroyed homes and trapped families in parts of Cebu and nearby provinces.
Education and Career
New push for deal as MPs press end to lecturers’ university strike
Members of the National Assembly’s Education Committee on Tuesday held a tense sitting with Treasury and Education officials, as well as representatives of university staff, in a push to revive stalled talks on the Sh7.9 billion collective bargaining agreement.
News
Elgeyo Marakwet mudslide toll hits 34 as search for missing persons continues
Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura said more than 6,000 households across Elgeyo Marakwet and other regions — including Trans Nzoia, Tana River, Baringo, Central and parts of Northern Kenya as well as Nairobi — have been affected by flooding and landslides during this rainy season.
News
IEBC admits sluggish voter listing, promises wider access post-November polls
As of October 31, the IEBC had captured 90,020 new voters, far short of the 6.8 million people it hopes to add to the register before the 2027 polls. The drive has also processed 15,619 transfers and 188 updates to voter records.
News
Curfew lifted in Tanzania's Dar es Salaam city after election unrest
Following the unrest, the internet was cut nationwide and most shops in Dar es Salaam closed amid acute shortages of basic essentials and soaring prices. Schools shut and public transport came to a halt.
News
Murkomen appoints 6-member panel to recruit new NCIC chair and commissioners
The move comes as the current commissioners near the end of their six-year non-renewable term, which is set to expire on November 17, 2025.
News
EXPLAINER: Who is Princess Lalla Asmaa?
The cornerstone of Princess Lalla Asmaa’s humanitarian portfolio is her presidency of the Lalla Asmaa Foundation for Deaf Children and Youth, founded in 1995.