KBC Channel 1

Author: Claire Wanja

  • Unlocking the opportunities of Kenya’s boda boda economy

    Unlocking the opportunities of Kenya’s boda boda economy

    Each day, millions of people across Kenya rely on boda bodas to weave through traffic on the way to work, to move goods, access healthcare, and bridge the last mile. These fast, affordable motorcycle taxis power urban mobility and support economic inclusion, but they operate in a sector that remains largely informal. Many drivers navigate these roads with little training, oversight or protection.

    And yet, the sector is a critical part of Kenya’s economy, contributing over KSh 660 billion annually, which is around 4.4 percent of the country’s GDP. More than 2.5 million people depend on this sector for income. It fuels last-mile delivery, supports e-commerce, connects farms to markets, and sustains a wide network of service providers. Many drivers use motorcycle taxis to supplement other income, support families, or save for rainy days.

    The potential of Kenya’s two-wheel economy is immense, yet it remains largely untapped. This is not just about moving people from point A to B; it’s about fostering economic empowerment, enhancing urban efficiency, and creating a sustainable future for mobility. Unlocking this potential requires a multifaceted approach that goes beyond traditional views of the boda boda sector and elevates it from an informal necessity to a professionalised, respected, and thriving industry.

    The perception of boda bodas often falls short of their true value. They are not merely a last-resort mode of transport; they are the capillaries of urban and peri-urban life in Kenya. Their agility allows them to navigate congested streets and reach areas inaccessible to larger vehicles, making them indispensable for last-mile logistics and connecting communities. It is this kind of efficiency that positions them as a key solution to the growing challenges of urban sprawl and traffic congestion.

    However, this vital role is often overshadowed by concerns around safety and professionalism. Many drivers lack formal training, leading to a higher incidence of accidents. The absence of comprehensive insurance and social security nets leaves drivers vulnerable to financial hardship in case of injury or vehicle damage. Addressing these fundamental issues is paramount to building a sustainable and respected boda boda sector.

    Technology holds the key to professionalising and modernising the boda boda sector. Digital platforms can bring structure to a largely informal industry, offering tools for better organisation, improved safety, and enhanced earning opportunities. By integrating features such as transparent pricing and direct feedback mechanisms, these platforms can foster a greater sense of accountability and trust between drivers and riders.

    For instance, app-based services like Uber Boda demonstrate how technology can elevate the sector. Through such platforms, drivers must undergo background checks every year and receive training in road safety and customer service. According to the Uber Kenya Economic Impact Report, 87 percent of drivers reported that they felt safer if there was such app-based support, and riders shared similar feedback.

    Features like in-app GPS tracking, “Share My Trip,” and emergency buttons significantly enhance safety for both drivers and riders. This shift from informal arrangements to structured, app-driven operations not only provide drivers with consistent earning opportunities but also establishes clear standards, leading to a more reliable and professional service for consumers.

    The transparency in upfront pricing removes uncertainty and builds trust, changing the perception of boda bodas from an unpredictable option to a dependable mode of transport. In 2023 alone, app-based platforms enabled KSh 2.2 billion in additional income for drivers. Drivers attributed KSh 1.6 billion of that to the value of being able to choose their own schedules.

    Beyond ride-hailing, technology can also democratise access to financial services. Mobile money platforms, for example, enable flexible loan repayments and credit access for drivers, even those without formal banking histories. This financial inclusion empowers them to transition from renting to owning their motorcycles, a crucial step towards long-term economic stability and wealth creation.

    The conversation around the boda boda sector must also include its environmental impact. The adoption of electric motorcycles (e-bikes) is a game-changer, with significant cost savings for drivers due to eliminated fuel expenses and reduced maintenance. In 2024, electric motorcycles (e-bikes) accounted for more than 7 percent of new bike registrations in Kenya, up from 3.6 percent the year before. This shift is projected to create over 300,000 new jobs over the next five years.

    The rising number of registered e-bikes in Kenya is a promising sign of progress in sustainable transport. However, adoption remains uneven, especially in rural areas where charging infrastructure is still limited. To make e-mobility more inclusive, targeted investment in local assembly, service centres, and widespread charging infrastructure is essential.

    Electric mobility presents a fantastic opportunity for Kenya. Our electricity grid is powered mainly by renewable sources, hydro, geothermal, and wind, which generate a surplus every night. The wind is still blowing while we sleep! Directing this excess energy to power our transportation requirements will cut our foreign exchange needs and strengthen our balance of payments. By embracing electric mobility, we can transform our natural advantages into a cleaner, stronger, and more self-reliant Kenya.

    While technology offers powerful solutions, it cannot solve all the challenges. Issues like financial literacy, crime, lack of comprehensive insurance or legal protection remain significant hurdles.

    The path forward lies in public-private collaboration. Government bodies, civil society organisations, and businesses must work together to create an incentivising policy framework that balances formalisation with the entrepreneurial spirit of the sector. Programs that offer training in road safety, customer service, and digital tools, are crucial for professional development and instilling business discipline and financial literacy.

    Kenya has a unique opportunity to lead Africa in modernising two-wheel transport. By recognising the boda boda sector’s vital contribution, investing in its professionalisation, and embracing technological advancements, the nation can deliver safer rides, create better jobs, improve service quality, and foster cleaner cities. It is about cultivating a thriving ecosystem that respects its entrepreneurial spirit while protecting everyone on the road.

    Imran Manji is the General Manager, Head of East Africa & Head of Business Development for Africa at Uber

  • Envoys: President makes changes within Foreign Service to enhance delivery

    President William Ruto has nominated and redeployed envoys within Kenya’s Foreign Service in a bid to enhance performance and improve service delivery.

    The newly nominated ambassadors, high commissioners, consuls general, and deputy heads of mission will serve in key diplomatic missions in Africa, Europe, Asia, and North America.

    In an executive action carried out on Friday, the President stated that the changes align with his administration’s manifesto under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).

    In a press statement dated Friday, August 15, 2025, it stated that in accordance with Article 132 (2) of the Constitution, the President has nominated and redeployed the following Ambassadors, High Commissioners and Consul Generals as follows.

    Cluster of High Commissioners and Ambassador nominees’ names and their re-deployment stations in the foreign service include Amb. Galma Mukhe Boru (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia), Amb. Anthony Mwaniki Muchiri (Ankara, Turkey), Amb. Lucy Kiruthu (Bangkok, Thailand), Mr. Henry Wambuma (Bujumbura, Burundi), Amb. Catherine Kirumba Karemu (Dar es Salaam, Tanzania), Amb. George Morara Orina (Dublin, Ireland), Mr. Abdirashid Salat Abdille (Jakarta, Indonesia), Amb. Maurice Odhiambo Makoloo (London, United Kingdom) Amb. Joseph Musyoka Masila (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia), Amb. Edwin Afande (Vienna, Austria) and Hon. Florence Chepngetich Bore (Windhoek, Namibia).

    Cluster of Consul Generals nominees’ names and their re-deployment stations are as follows: Amb. Mohamed Ramadhan Ruwange (Arusha, Tanzania), Ms. Jayne Jepkorir (Dubai, UAE) and Ms. Judy Kiaria Nkumiri (Goma, DRC).

    Cluster of Deputy Heads of Mission nominees’ names and their redeployment stations include Mr. Mohamed Amin Sheikh Nuh (Berlin, Germany), Amb. Kipkosgei Toroitich (Kampala, Uganda), Amb. Moni Manyange (Kinshasa, DRC), Amb. Geoffrey Eyanae Kaituko(Ottawa, Canada), Amb. Suleiman Ibrahim Roba (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia) and Mr. David Mwangi Karanja (Seoul, Korea).

    According to the statement, President Ruto has submitted the applicable nominations for Foreign Service appointments to the National Assembly for consideration and approval, in accordance with the Constitution.

     

     

  • AMREF Flying Doctors resume operations after fatal crash

    AMREF Flying Doctors resume operations after fatal crash

    AMREF Flying Doctors have resumed their operations a week after a tragic plane crash in Mwihoko, Kiambu County, that claimed the lives of four staff members.

    Speaking to the media at their offices at Wilson Airport, the organisation’s Group CEO, Dr. Githinji, confirmed that one of the first missions after the incident involved a flight from Nairobi to Belgium to assist a victim of a tragic accident.

    Dr. Githinji also noted that AMREF continues to provide counselling services to the families affected by the crash. Burial arrangements for the four staff members who died in the incident are set to begin next week.

    The AMREF aircraft involved in the crash, a Cessna Citation 560XL, was en route to Hargeisa, Somaliland, when it lost contact with air traffic control just three minutes after takeoff. The plane crashed into a residential building, killing six people and injuring two others.

    The fatalities included two doctors, two nurses, and two civilians on the ground.  The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority is investigating the cause of the crash.

  • AI designs antibiotics for gonorrhoea and MRSA superbugs

    AI designs antibiotics for gonorrhoea and MRSA superbugs

    Artificial intelligence has invented two new potential antibiotics that could kill drug-resistant gonorrhoea and MRSA, researchers have revealed.

    The drugs were designed atom-by-atom by the AI and killed the superbugs in laboratory and animal tests.

    The two compounds still need years of refinement and clinical trials before they could be prescribed

    But the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) team behind it say AI could start a “second golden age” in antibiotic discovery.

    Antibiotics kill bacteria, but infections that resist treatment are now causing more than a million deaths a year.

    Overusing antibiotics has helped bacteria evolve to dodge the drugs’ effects, and there has been a shortage of new antibiotics for decades.

    Researchers have previously used AI to trawl through thousands of known chemicals in an attempt to identify ones with potential to become new antibiotics.

    Now, the MIT team have gone one step further by using generative AI to design antibiotics in the first place for the sexually transmitted infection gonorrhoea and for potentially-deadly MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus).

    Their study, published in the journal Cell, interrogated 36 million compounds including those that either do not exist or have not yet been discovered.

    Scientists trained the AI by giving it the chemical structure of known compounds alongside data on whether they slow the growth of different species of bacteria.

    The AI then learns how bacteria are affected by different molecular structures, built of atoms such as carbon, oxygen, hydrogen and nitrogen.

    Two approaches were then tried to design new antibiotics with AI. The first identified a promising starting point by searching through a library of millions of chemical fragments, eight to 19 atoms in size, and built from there. The second gave the AI free rein from the start.

    The design process also weeded out anything that looked too similar to current antibiotics. It also tried to ensure they were inventing medicines rather than soap and to filter out anything predicted to be toxic to humans.

    Scientists used AI to create antibiotics for gonorrhoea and MRSA, a type of bacteria that lives harmlessly on the skin but can cause a serious infection if it enters the body.

    Once manufactured, the leading designs were tested on bacteria in the lab and on infected mice, resulting in two new potential drugs.

    MIT Prof Collins is leading on his laboratory bench, wearing a burgundy shirt, with an array of pieces of scientific equipment out of focus in the background.MIT

    “We’re excited because we show that generative AI can be used to design completely new antibiotics,” Prof James Collins, from MIT, tells the BBC.

    “AI can enable us to come up with molecules, cheaply and quickly and in this way, expand our arsenal, and really give us a leg up in the battle of our wits against the genes of superbugs.”

    However, they are not ready for clinical trials and the drugs will require refinement – estimated to take another one to two year’s work – before the long process of testing them in people could begin.

    I found a bacteria-eating virus in my loo – could it save your life?

    Dr Andrew Edwards, from the Fleming Initiative and Imperial College London, said the work was “very significant” with “enormous potential” because it “demonstrates a novel approach to identifying new antibiotics”.

    But he added: “While AI promises to dramatically improve drug discovery and development, we still need to do the hard yards when it comes to testing safety and efficacy.”

    That can be a long and expensive process with no guarantee that the experimental medicines will be prescribed to patients at the end.

    Some are calling for AI drug discovery more broadly to improve. Prof Collins says “we need better models” that move beyond how well the drugs perform in the laboratory to ones that are a better predictor of their effectiveness in the body.

    There is also an issue with how challenging the AI-designs are to manufacture. Of the top 80 gonorrhoea treatments designed in theory, only two were synthesised to create medicines.

    Prof Chris Dowson, at the University of Warwick, said the study was “cool” and showed AI was a “significant step forward as a tool for antibiotic discovery to mitigate against the emergence of resistance”.

    However, he explains, there is also an economic problem factoring into drug-resistant infections – “how do you make drugs that have no commercial value?”

    If a new antibiotic was invented, then ideally you would use it as little as possible to preserve its effectiveness, making it hard for anyone to turn a profit.

  • Witnesses detail chilling ordeals in Shakahola massacre case

    Witnesses detail chilling ordeals in Shakahola massacre case

    The Mombasa High Court this week heard harrowing testimonies from three witnesses in the murder trial of controversial preacher Paul Mackenzie and 29 of his co-accused, charged over the deaths of hundreds of followers in the Shakahola forest, Kilifi County.

    Testifying before Lady Justice Diana Kadveza, the witnesses under the witness protection agency, among them minors rescued from the forest, gave graphic accounts of starvation, beatings, and religious indoctrination that, they said, claimed the lives of many.

    One witness testified that followers would gather under ‘Mitola trees’, specific trees in the forest, where Mackenzie, commonly referred to as “Mtumishi”, conducted teachings.

    According to the testimony, Mackenzie instructed his followers to “fast until death”, starting with children, then women, then men, and lastly himself. He also taught that “Jesus was not coming, but rather they were to go to Jesus through fasting to death.

    Those who resisted the fasting order, the court heard, were subjected to beatings. “If anyone refused, they were beaten,” the witness said.

    The court was also told that some of the victims were only months old. Others were school-going children and grandchildren of the accused. Many of them, the witnesses added, were buried in the Shakahola forest and those burials were referred to as “weddings.”

    A minor rescued from the forest recounted being denied food and water for days. “I was told not to eat, not to drink,” they said. He added that his mother reported him to Mackenzie that he was demanding water.

    The minor also stated that, at one point, Mackenzie instructed that they be moved from their home because they were “not dying fast enough” and taken to another location where they would be placed under full-time supervision of guards employed by Mackenzie. He added that Mackenzie went even further to pray for him that the spirit in him of asking for water and food should leave and let him join his creator.

    The witness further narrated to the court how his younger brother, who died from forced fasting supervised by their mother, was buried in a shallow grave by Mackenzie’s men, who were recruited as security in the wilderness to oversee the fasting and ensure those who died were buried.

    In a striking observation, one witness said the accused in court appeared “healthier now than before,” drawing a contrast with the emaciated state in which many victims had been found.

    The case prosecuted by Jami Yamina, J. V. Owiti and Betty Rubia continues in the week beginning 25th August 2025.

  • Food crisis looms if court blocks duty-free imports, CS Kagwe says

    Food crisis looms if court blocks duty-free imports, CS Kagwe says

    Kenya is staring at a possible spike in food prices and an acute rice shortage if the courts uphold a petition seeking to block the importation of 500,000 metric tonnes of duty-free rice, Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said on Thursday.

    This follows a gazette notice issued on July 28 by Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi, in which Agriculture CS had recommended that Kenya import 500,000 metric tons of Grade 1 milled rice duty-free before December 31, 2025.

    Following the announcement, the farmers’ party took the matter to court, successfully obtaining a temporary suspension of the import plan.

    The Kerugoya court is set to give directions on Friday, August 15, 2025, at 2.30 pm, on whether to lift conservatory orders obtained challenging the Cabinet’s decision.

    According to an affidavit by Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary  Mutahi Kagwe, Kenya’s annual demand for rice stands at about 1.3 million metric tonnes against a domestic production of just 20pc, leaving a deficit of more than 80pc, roughly 1 million metric tonnes, that is bridged mainly through imports.

    The CS warned that the current retail price of Grade 1 milled white rice has already surged to between Sh190 and Sh220 per kilogramme, a steep rise from last year’s duty-free period average of Sh150 per kilogramme.

    “If duty-free imports are blocked, the prices are likely to soar further, deepening the cost-of-living crisis,” Kagwe said.

    Kagwe noted that projections showed that Kenya’s rice consumption per capita in 2025 is expected to reach 29 kilogrammes, with the population estimated at 54.79 million.

    This, he added, translates to a national requirement of about 1.5 million metric tonnes of rice for the year, or roughly 125,000 metric tonnes per month. The country will need about 625,000 metric tonnes between July and December 2025 alone.

    The affidavit further reveals that the Kenya National Trading Corporation (KNTC) has signed contracts with the Mwea Rice Growers Cooperative to mop up local stocks for onward distribution to government institutions.

    However, available stocks from farmers currently stand at only 20,000 (50kg) bags, against a projected demand of more than 350,000 bags for key government institutions.

    These are the Ministry of Education—130,000bags (Komboka). Special Programmes – 90,000 bags (Komboka). State Department for Correctional Services – 60,000 bags (Sindano) and Kenya Defence Forces – 40,000 bags (SPR).

    Other agencies, such as the Administration Police, General Service Unit, National Youth Service, and Kenya Police Service, also have substantial rice needs.

    “The importation is necessary to stabilise prices and avert a potential food crisis,” Kagwe emphasised, warning that without duty-free imports, both household consumers and critical public institutions could face severe shortages.

    Three days ago, Justice Edward Muriithi issued a conservatory order suspending a directive by Cabinet allowing the duty-free importation of 500,000 metric tonnes of rice.

    Kenyan rice farmers are protesting the government’s decision to allow duty-free rice imports, fearing it would negatively impact their livelihoods.

    The government maintains that imports are necessary to address a local shortage and ensure affordable prices for consumers.

    According to the Kenya National Trading Corporation (KMTC), the locally available stock currently is Komboka rice-10,000 bags, Premium Basmati Rice-4,000 bags and MRG Rice-6,000 bags.

     

  • Kenyans will not be swayed by outdated politics, Ruto tells opposition

    Kenyans will not be swayed by outdated politics, Ruto tells opposition

    Kenyans will not be swayed by outdated politics, empty rhetoric and sloganeering, President William Ruto has said.

    The President said Kenyans are keen on development programmes and policies that transform Kenya and have a real impact on their lives.

    To this end, he said the government is implementing initiatives that will address the challenges facing the country and transform the lives of Kenyans.

    He told the opposition that the era of slogans is gone, adding that they have no development agenda to offer the people.

    “There are people who want to take us back to the politics of slogans like ‘Ruto must go’. This will not take you anywhere. Kenyans want to know what plan you have for them,” he pointed out.

    President Ruto was speaking during a consultative meeting with grassroots leaders from Migori County at the Sony Sugar Green Stadium in Awendo, attended by Governor Ochillo Ayacko, Cabinet Secretaries Opiyo Wandayi (Energy) and John Mbadi (Treasury), MPs, and MCAs.

    The President reminded his critics that this is not the time for politics, but to deliver services to Kenyans.

    In the past three years, he said he has set a track record in development. He cited the stabilisation of economy and setting it on a growth path.

    He explained that since taking office, the shilling has strengthened and stabilised at KSh129 from a high of KSh165 to the US dollar.

    “Inflation has declined from 9.6 per cent to 4.1 per cent last month,” he added.

    On agricultural reforms, he said the removal of subsidies on commodities and the shift to subsidising production has increased agricultural productivity, enhanced food security, and reduced food prices.

    He noted that fertiliser, which cost close to KSh7,000 for a 50kg bag, now goes at KSh2,500.

    President Ruto also said the government has dealt with cartels of farm inputs in the agricultural sector by registering farmers on a digital platform.

    “We now have 6.5 million farmers in our database, making it easy to support them,” he said.

    He pointed out that coffee prices have risen from KSh60 a kilogramme to between KSh110 and KSh150.

    In the sugar sector, the government has reformed management in companies, reviving the industry and ensuring farmers earn more, receive bonuses, and are paid on time.

    “We have directed that farmers delivering sugarcane must be paid within one week of delivery of cane,” he said.

    The President emphasised that the government aims to end food imports and grow more locally, adding that by 2027, Kenya will be a net exporter of sugar.

    On education, the government is addressing the teacher shortage by hiring 76,000 teachers in the past two years. Later this month, 24,000 teachers will be recruited.

    The President expressed his commitment to delivering universal healthcare under the Social Health Authority (SHA), saying outpatient services at dispensaries, health centres and sub-county hospitals are free and patients should not pay.

    “Those who ask citizens for money at three categories of hospital for outpatient services will be dealt with. It is illegal,” he said.

    President Ruto urged Kenyans to register with SHA so that they can benefit, saying 25 million people have already registered.

    “We want to make sure that health is not a privilege but a right for all,” he said.

    On roads, the President assured Kenyans that the government has secured KSh175 billion and construction has resumed in all parts of the country.

    The government, he explained, has implemented deliberate policies and programmes to create jobs and other opportunities for young people.

    The Affordable Housing Programme has already created 320,000 jobs, and they are expected to double in the next few months.

    The digital economy is generating jobs through ICT hubs that are being built in each of the country’s 1,450 wards.

    Jobs abroad, in the government’s Labour Mobility Programme, have benefited 420,000 young people in past two and a half months.

    Additionally, the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) programme will advance a KSh50,0000 grant to 70 young people from each ward to invest in their businesses, President Ruto said.

    The initiative between the government and the World Bank will benefit more than  100,000 young businesspeople.

    The ClimateWorx programme, in which young people are hired to clean the environment and plant and grow trees in the major cities, is also moving nationwide and creating jobs, the President explained.

    He urged Kenyans to take advantage of these opportunities to improve their lives.

    “Employment opportunities will not come looking for you at home; you must make an effort,” he said.

    The President commended former Prime Minister Raila Odinga for working with the government to unite the country. He noted that the broad-based arrangement is accelerating the country’s transformation agenda.

    “Kenya cannot be built by a few people or sections of political groupings, but by all united Kenyans,” he said.

    The President reiterated that no region will be left behind as the government rolls out the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.

    He said the government is working with legislators to enact a law that will ensure those affected by protests are compensated.

    Later, the President presided over the groundbreaking for the Awendo Affordable Housing Project.

    The 300-unit housing project will meet the growing demand for decent and affordable homes and create more than 500 jobs for young people and women.

    President Ruto said the government will also build 15,000 housing units under the Affordable Housing Programme and 18 markets in Migori County.

    Governor Ayacko said the county is working with the National Government in the national transformation agenda.

    Suna East MP Junet Mohamed commended the government’s development agenda in Migori County, saying it has implemented tangible projects.

    Mr Mohammed questioned why the opposition calls for protests without a clear agenda, recalling that previous demonstrations were based on specific concerns like high food prices.

    “We came out with cooking pots on our heads because of the high food prices. Today, the prices have gone down,” he said

  • ‘She Leads’ seeks to amplify the voice of girls in decision-making in Africa

    ‘She Leads’ seeks to amplify the voice of girls in decision-making in Africa

    A summit that seeks to champion and sustain the leadership of young people especially, Girls and Young Women (GYW) in decision-making across the African continent is in the works.

    The four-day “She Leads Africa Summit 2025” is set to be held in Nairobi from August 11, 2025.

    It is the first continental summit that seeks to ensure young people play an active role in decision-making spaces.

    “Africa, with its vibrant youth, including over 116 million under 35 in East Africa alone, is a continent of immense potential. Yet, the leadership of young people, especially Girls and Young Women (GYW), remains undervalued,” a statement by She Leads, a five-year joint programme aiming at advancing GYW rights to meaningful participation and engagement in regional decision-making spaces in Africa, reads in part.

    “Girls and Young Women are actively addressing global issues such as climate change, digital inequality, gender-based violence, and economic injustice, but are often excluded from decision-making. Now is the time to change this.”

    According to She Leads, as Africa nears the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) deadline, there is urgent need to protect progress and ensure Girls and Young Women are sufficiently integrated in decision-making processes.

    The summit will be held under the theme, ¨Sustaining Girls and Young Women Leadership in Key Decision-Making Spaces in Africa¨.

    It is organized by the Horn of Africa Youth Network (HoAYN) and Terre des Hommes Netherlands, in collaboration with a host of other organizations.

    It marks the first-ever regional civil society-led summit convened for and by GYW across the continent.

    Hosted in the Eastern Africa region, the Summit is seen as both a powerful culmination of the five-year She Leads programme (2021–2025) and a bold step forward in shaping policies that place Girls and Young Women at the centre of decision-making.

     

  • Kenya and Iran sign MoUs, vow to strengthen relations

    Kenya and Iran sign MoUs, vow to strengthen relations

    Kenya and the Islamic Republic of Iran have signed a total of eight Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) following the conclusion of a two-day forum that was held in Nairobi.

    The 7th Session of the Kenya-Iran Joint Commission for Cooperation, officiated by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and the Minister of Agriculture of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Dr. Gholamneza Nouri, focused  on strengthening bilateral relations and shared commitments and charting a clear path for deeper cooperation across diverse sectors.

    Mudavadi and Nouri on Wednesday co-chaired the Ministerial Segment of the Kenya–Iran Joint Cooperation Commission, a platform viewed by the two countries as vital in advancing strategic partnerships and expanding bilateral engagement.

    “Our deliberations culminated in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding spanning key areas such as health, electricity and renewable energy, housing, and urban development, among other priority sectors,” remarked Mudavadi who also serves as Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs.

    “We also issued a Joint Communiqué capturing the shared commitments and new pathways of collaboration agreed upon during the session.”

    While officially opening the session last Tuesday, the Prime CS noted that Iran remains a strategic partner and a key market for Kenyan tea with exports having grown from 3.2 metric tons in 2020 to a record 13 metric tons in 2024.

    “We are hopeful that the lifting of the current ban will pave the way for the resumption, and expansion, of Kenyan tea exports to Iran, bringing mutual economic benefit to both our peoples,” said Mudavadi.

    On his part, Dr. Nouri said the focal points of the MoUs signed between the two countries are; leveraging private-sector partnerships to unlock trade and investment potential; and strengthen monitoring mechanisms to track deliverables.

    The 8th Session of the Joint Commission for Cooperation will be held in Tehran in 2027.

    Kenya and Iran enjoy longstanding diplomatic ties anchored on mutual respect, shared interests, and fruitful cooperation across multiple sectors.

     

     

     

  • Rotary Club brings relief to GK Prison School’s sanitation crisis

    Rotary Club brings relief to GK Prison School’s sanitation crisis

    As schools across Kenya prepare to close for the second-term holidays, one school in Kitengela is preparing for something more transformative. GK Prison Comprehensive School in Kitengela is welcoming a timely intervention one that is set to change their dilapidated pit latrines.

    Known for its charity work, the Rotary Club of Kitengela has come in handy to end the long-standing sanitation and water crisis that has been silently overwhelming the institution.

    For years, over 2,000 students at this public school have been forced to share dilapidated pit latrines, many without doors and most in unhygienic conditions. But now, through the initiative dubbed ‘Safi Kitengela WASH in Schools (WINS) the learners’ lives will be transformed.

    Speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony at the school grounds, Caroline Njiru President of the Rotary Club of Kitengela said, “We’re here to solve the problem.”

    She added “Rotary is an organization that brings together community volunteers to solve local problems, our club has engineers, architects, Public Relation professionals and people from all walks of life coming together to address urgent needs.”

    Njiru further explained that at GK Prisons School, over 2,000 students share toilets that are in very poor condition.

    “The current ratio is 1 toilet per 70–80 children, a sharp contrast to World Health Organization (WHO)’s standard of 1 to 30 for boys and 1 to 25 for girls,” said Njiru.

    Many toilets lack doors and are hard to clean, making them unsafe and undignified for learners. We’re here to change that.” Said Njiru “We are here to renovate the existing toilets and construct new blocks for both boys and girls.”

    The rotary club also plans to address the broader WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) issues with sustainable solutions, as they have done before by building kitchens, installing handwashing stations during COVID-19, and supporting feeding programs in different schools around Kajiado.

    “GK Prisons is just the beginning. Through our Safi Kitengela WASH program, we aim to upgrade sanitation facilities in at least six public schools in Kitengela over the next two years, in partnership with organizations like Crystal Paints, Elgon Kenya, and Unilever,” reiterated Njiru.

    Catherine Kipuri, the headteacher of GK Prisons Comprehensive School, has witnessed the challenges firsthand.

    “The enrollment is at 2,500 and keeps growing. Yet our classrooms are crumbling, the library is too small, and the toilets are a health hazard,” said Kipuri. “Even our teachers have no staffroom, they sit in classrooms, our children deserve better.”

    Many of these children come from informal settlements around Kajiado others from vulnerable, low-income families. They rely on this school not just for education but for meals, too. “We used to offer them a cup of porridge at lunch, but that stopped last month. We fear some may drop out due to hunger,” said Kipuri.

    Despite these issues, the headteacher added that the students continue to excel academically and in music and sports. “They are talented, and with Competence Based Education (CBE) requiring creativity and innovation, we need an environment that supports their potential, she said.

    Caroline Njiru, President of the Rotary Club of Kitengela, delivers her opening remarks during the groundbreaking ceremony at GK Prison School in Kitengela.

    Kitengela Safi

    Dr. Patricio Njiru Njeru, a District Governor Nominee with Rotary District 9212, echoed the urgency of the intervention.

    “Today we are breaking ground for Kitengela Safi, our sanitation improvement project. After assessing six schools in the area, we found student-to-toilet ratios as high as 1 to 140. At GK Prisons, we plan to build two new blocks one for boys, one for girls each with 10 to 20 toilets,” said Njeru.

    According to him, the cost of each block is roughly KES 600,000. “Due to water scarcity, we are not installing flushable toilets but are using improved pit latrines with subtle pans hygienic, odor-free, and easy to clean,” added Njeru.

    He assured the school that they will walk the WASH program together with the school for the next three years and ensure Kitengela becomes “Safi”, clean, safe and dignified for all schoolchildren.

    Sanitation and psychology

    Sylvester Mbugua, a Custody Psychologist and Board of Management member at the school, believes the project’s impact will go beyond hygiene.

    “Our learners mostly come from slums and dysfunctional families. Some are raised by single mothers, others by parents working in local industries. I work with teachers, parents, and students to provide psychological support,” said Mbugua.

    According to him, they have seen how poor environments increase stress and reduce performance. “Sanitation plays a role in mental well-being. This Rotary Club initiative will greatly boost the children’s morale and academic outcomes,” he added.

    Initially, the school tried sourcing support before from the County Government and local companies like Portland Cement but the need still overtakes the help received.

    With the Safi Kitengela program now underway, the school believes that hope is finally flowing like clean water, restoring dignity, health, and potential to GK Prison School’s future.

    Patrick Wanjohi Project Director at the Rotary Club of Kitengela added that the pit latrines will be a bit modified with the girls’ block having an inclusive of mental hygiene room.

    “We want to construct a pit latrine for both boys and girls. For the girls, it will include a menstrual hygiene room,” said Wanjohi. “The work is expected to take around 30 days before school re-open in late August.”

    Further, he added that they are partnering with the school where the school will provide the manual labour, and the rotary will offer the professional labour. “During this period, we will also renovate the existing dilapidated toilet blocks.”