Patients in Machakos are bearing the brunt of a nurses’ strike, now in its sixth day as of Tuesday, with medical services remaining paralysed at key hospitals across the county.
The strike, which began last Friday, has seen nurses walk off the job, leaving patients unattended and severely disrupting medical operations. Wards at Machakos Level 5 and Kangundo Level 4 hospitals remain nearly empty as a result.
During an impromptu visit to the two facilities, Machakos Senator Agnes Kavindu found patients with broken limbs and others on oxygen, struggling without medical care. She described the situation as dire and called for urgent government intervention.
“What I witnessed was heartbreaking, patients in critical condition left to fend for themselves, some discharged despite being too ill to move. I urge the county leadership to act with compassion and urgency. Let us prioritise humanity over bureaucracy and immediately engage with our nurses to find a return to work formula. Our people are suffering in hospital beds and at home. This crisis cannot wait”, she urged.
Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives KNUNM Machakos branch secretary, Michael Saka says the county has violated key agreements on promotions, salaries, and working conditions. The nurses insist they will not return to work until the county honours its commitments.
The strike is part of a nationwide walkout organised by the Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives.
The government will not go back on easing vetting of Kenyans living along the borders for issuance of identification documents, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has said.
The DP said the decision by President William Ruto remains in force and is meant to do away with past discriminatory tendencies targeting some communities.
He spoke on Tuesday when he hosted Members of Parliament leaders from Northern Kenya for consultations on ongoing development projects at the Official Residence in Karen, Nairobi.
“I am happy with the policy interventions that dealt with discriminatory tendencies on issuance of IDs. They have made some sectarian people uncomfortable but we must do them for the sake of forging a united and prosperous country,” DP said.
Further, Kindiki said the government is implementing a non-discriminative development agenda, saying he is an advocate of equal treatment of all Kenyans.
“I am a great advocate of inclusion, equity and the indivisibility of Kenya and I believe every part of Kenya needs to be treated equally and places that have lagged behind deserve affirmative action from the government,” DP affirmed.
In line with this, infrastructure projects including roads, electricity, water, affordable housing and construction of modern markets are ongoing in the northern parts under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda that aims to reinvigorate grassroots economies.
The DP assured that the Isiolo-Modogashe-Wajir-Kotulo-Elwak-Rhamu-Mandera will be completed as planned.
The 750km road intended to open up the region to economic takeoff is among other projects underway in the area.
The Deputy President praised the securitisation of the roads levy saying it is an innovative way that has unlocked funds for the revival of stalled roads across the country.
“Many contractors that had abandoned sites, some for over six years, are now back. The financing model will expedite the completion of the Northern Kenya roads including Lamu-Ijara-Garissa and Isiolo-Mandera Roads. The completion of this road will be a game-changer for the region and the whole of Kenya,” he stated.
The DP said the resistance to the Universal Health Coverage under SHA had faced serious resistance but has turned out to be successful after over 25.4 million Kenyans enrolled for it.
The focus now, he assured, is to fine-tune it to get rid of emerging operational challenges like delays in approvals, fictitious payments and claims.
“Right now, half of Kenyans have medical cover. Every day we have over 50, 000 registering. By 2027 we will have over 35 million covered. It is a huge milestone. The debate now is how to perfect it,” he noted.
To ensure hospitals are equipped with medical equipment and medicine, the government is exploring various ways to curb shortage and loss.
“We are aligning medical supply with the institution. We want to ensure the medicine goes directly to the dispensary, the health centre or the hospital from KEMSA,” he said.
The DP also assured the leaders that the affordable housing project does not discriminate against any county as it is a national initiative.
“Kenya’s future is urban. In another 20 years, 60 percent of Kenyans will be living in urban centres. We will have urban centres in Wajir, Garissa, Mandera and the rest of the country. The housing and market construction program is timely and will help in raising the country’s profile,” he said.
The lawmakers appreciated the government’s expansive development agenda in the region saying it is the most intense since independence.
“We want the President to be reelected. We want this government to come back. We want all the projects to be taken off. For the first time in 63 years, we consider ourselves citizens of this country,” Dadaab MP Farah Maalim, also Patron of the North Eastern Parliamentary Caucus, said.
“There are individuals who have taken time to profile the community we represent. This is the time to push back the narrative,” said Eldas MP Adan Keynan, Chairman North Eastern Parliamentary Caucus.
The government is rolling out bold and strategic initiatives to tackle Kenya’s bulging youth unemployment crisis, President William Ruto has said.
The President noted that the country has not had a deliberate and intentional plan to create jobs for far too long.
Speaking during the International Youth Day celebrations in Kakamega County on Tuesday, he cited the Affordable Housing Programme, construction of modern markets, labour mobility, digital economy, ClimateWorx, business support and access to credit and grants as some of the initiatives expanding opportunities for young people.
“The single biggest problem among young people is unemployment and lack of opportunities,” he said.
At the event, President Ruto presented cheques worth KSh163 million to support 816 young people who have successfully secured jobs abroad through the Labour Mobility Programme.
He also launched the “Kuna Form” portal that will make it easy for young people to access business opportunities in government.
Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa, Cabinet Secretaries Salim Mvurya (Sports and Youth Affairs) and Wycliffe Oparanya (MSMEs) were present.
President Ruto said 161,000 housing units are under construction as part of a 700,000 homes pipeline expected to generate more than one million jobs.
He explained that about 320,000 people are already working in the Affordable Housing Programme, with the number set to double in the next two months.
“We have deliberately chosen housing as one of the main engines of job creation in Kenya today,” he said.
He also announced that the government has advertised 4,000 internship positions for young professionals in the building and construction sector, with a target to place 10,000 interns in the Affordable Housing Programme by January 2026.
Through the ClimateWorx programme, the President said 45,000 young people are working in the Nairobi Rivers Regeneration project and turning riparian areas into green corridors.
He said the programme is also being rolled out in all counties through an expanded roadworks programme, which will grow the ClimateWorx workforce to 113,000.
Additionally, President Ruto said the Kandarasi Mtaani initiative will employ a further 200,000 young people in labour-intensive works in housing and market projects.
On the digital front, he said the government has expanded fibre optic coverage by 24,000km, installed 1,494 public Wi-Fi hotspots, completed 316 digital hubs with 404 more underway, trained 1.9 million youth in digital skills, and enabled 300,000 to secure online jobs.
President Ruto also explained that the government is expanding labour mobility through the Global Labour Mobility Strategy.
He said that in the past two and a half years, 420,000 Kenyans have secured jobs abroad under the Kazi Majuu programme, supported by labour bilateral agreements with various countries, including Germany and the United Arab Emirates, among others.
The President pointed out that, through business support and mentorship, including financial literacy training, affordable credit and grants, and public procurement opportunities reserved for the youth, the government is nurturing successful youth-run businesses.
On the Hustler Fund, he said it has become one of Kenya’s most transformative financial inclusion initiatives, reaching more than 26 million Kenyans and disbursing KSh72 billion while mobilising KSh5 billion in savings.
He added that Uwezo Fund has financed travel costs for 225 youth in its pilot phase, while the Youth Enterprise Development Fund has enabled 2,271 young people to secure international jobs by providing the youth with soft loans to pay for the necessary travel requirements.
The Kenya Youth Employment Opportunities Project, which has reached 310,000 beneficiaries, will be succeeded by the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) Project.
“NYOTA aims to train 600,000 young people on accessing government tenders, support 110,000 entrepreneurs, and provide start-up capital of KSh50,000 to 100,000 young people nationwide,” he said.
The President said the Kenya Jobs and Economic Transformation Project will support 42,000 enterprises and 600 clusters, while the Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Bank will be launched this year with KSh9.75 billion seed capital to finance and build youth enterprises.
Citing Technical and Vocational Education and Training as crucial to jobs in the 21st Century, President Ruto said investment in the sector has seen enrolment grow from about 180,000 learners in 2018 to more than 700,000 today, supported by an increase in institutions from about 50 a decade ago to more than 250 now.
He explained that through the National Government Apprenticeship Opportunities (NGAO) programme, the Government aims to enrol two million young people in TVET institutions in the short-term.
He pointed out that this will help meet the projected annual demand of 300,000 skilled workers and close a skills gap of up to 40 per cent in some technical fields.
Governor Barasa commended government efforts in creating jobs for the youth, noting that they are the majority in the country.
He also appreciated government support in upgrading Bukhungu Stadium, Kakamega Level 6 Hospital, the Affordable Housing Programme, and universal healthcare, which are transforming the region and the country.
“We appreciate all this because this is work that has not been done before,” he said.
Mr Oparanya urged young people to take advantage of opportunities made available by the government to build a strong foundation for their careers.
Mr Mvurya said the government has created deliberate, strategic and innovative policies and programmes to empower the youth.
“For these opportunities to be beneficial, we urge our young people to be proactive,” he said.
He also called on the youth to maintain peace and abide by the rule of law, pointing out that no one can thrive in an environment of lawlessness and chaos.
“If anyone uses you to cause violence, please know you are not advancing your dream, you are helping others to advance their dreams,” he said.
Kenya and Iran have established a joint committee tasked with eradicating trade obstacles within 60 days, paving the way for the lifting of the ban on Kenyan tea exports to Iran.
The breakthrough was reached during the 7th Session of the Kenya–Iran Joint Commission for Cooperation (JCC) held in Nairobi, co-chaired by Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and Dr. Gholamreza Nouri Ghezalcheh, Minister of Agricultural Jihad of Iran.
The move comes in the wake of a criminal trade malpractice involving a Kenyan company, Cup of Joe Limited, which has since been deregistered by the Tea Board of Kenya and is set to face prosecution. Investigations revealed that the firm imported low-grade tea, blended it, and re-exported it to Iran as high-grade Kenyan tea, triggering a diplomatic dispute and the subsequent ban.
Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Sen. Mutahi Kagwe said the two countries had agreed to draft strict regulations to prevent such criminal activity in future and safeguard the integrity of Kenyan tea.
“Kenya’s tea sector is one of our largest foreign exchange earners, and we must protect it from unscrupulous traders who damage our reputation,” said the CS.
Iran is among the top ten importers of Kenyan tea. In 2024, data collated by Tea Board of Kenya shows they imported 13mn kilogramme worth Sh4.26bn, topped by Pakistan which maintained its position as a leading importer of Kenyan tea, accounting for 34.7% of the total export volumes worth Sh70bn.
Kenya’s tea was shipped to 96 export destinations compared 92 in the year 2023. The ban has caused significant losses to Kenyan tea farmers and exporters.
Other key export destinations for Kenya tea were Egypt whose import volume was 86.90 Million Kgs worth Sh23.96 Billion; UK (57.44 Million Kgs valued at KSh16.99 Billion); UAE (30.50 Million Kgs valued at KSh10.27 Billion; Russia 28.46 Million Kgs, KSh7.43 Billion); India (17.13 Million Kgs, KSh3.94 Billion); Saudi Arabia (15.92 Million Kgs, KSh6.02 Billion); Yemen (14.13 Million Kgs, KSh5.52 Billion
The joint committee will develop a framework to restore trust and ensure compliance with quality standards, with the ultimate goal of resuming tea exports before the end of the 60-day period.
Kenya has joined other East Africa Countries in coming up with a regional biotechnology strategy which prioritizes equitable access to biotechnology benefits, preservation of biodiversity, and public education to build trust and acceptance.
Kenya’s National Biosafety Authority (NBA)- which is a competent authority for biosafety, and designated as the National Focal Point for both the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and the Biosafety Clearing House participated in the validation of the strategy which aims to harmonize biotechnology policies and regulations to overcome fragmented national frameworks that slow innovation and complicated trade.
The East African Science and Technology Commission (EASTECO) Executive Secretary Dr. Sylvance Okoth while addressing the delegates from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, USA among others in Nairobi, called on the experts to look deeper into the pillars of the strategy and incorporate views presented during the workshop.
” Let us help Partner States lagging behind,” said Dr. Okoth during the three-day forum and who heads the Commission which is an institution of the East African Community (EAC) with the mandate to promote and coordinate the development, management and application of Science and Technology to support regional integration and socio-economic development.
National Biosafety Authority Acting Director Biosafety Awareness, Assessment and Collaborations Mr. Josphat Muchiri underscored the importance of having a harmonized strategy.
“This 10(ten)-year strategy, projected to run from 2026-2036, will boost crucial regional adoption of safety and implementation standards. As a country we have been in the forefront of championing for this strategy,” said Mr. Muchiri.
Already Kenya has established a multi-secretarial committee for the implementation of the Cartagena protocol on biosafety, which is being led by the National Biosafety Authority as the Competent National institution on matters of GMOs.
The Biosafety Act Cap 320 mandates the National Biosafety Authority to promote awareness and education among the general public in matters relating to biosafety as well as establish a Biosafety Clearing House (BCH) to serve as a means through which information is made available to facilitate the exchange of scientific, technical, environmental, and legal information on, and experience with, living modified organisms.
The Authority has clear jurisdiction over all genetically modified organisms in Kenya—whether approved, illegal, or unintended.
To support the implementation of the Biosafety Act, Kenya formulated several regulations, including the Biosafety (Contained Use) Regulations (2011), the Biosafety (Environmental Release) Regulations (2011), the Biosafety (Import, Export and Transit) Regulations (2011), and the Biosafety (Labelling) Regulations (2012). These regulatory instruments comprehensively govern aspects of genetically modified organism (GMO) research, release, commerce, and consumer information.
Additionally, Kenya has developed guidelines pertaining to risk assessment, facility certification, genome editing, and GMO testing. Laboratory quality and biorisk management standards such as ISO 20387:2018 for biobanking and ISO 35001:2019 for biorisk management are being implemented through the Kenya National Accreditation Service (KENAS).
Kenya has approved trials for genetically modified crops like banana, cassava, yam, and sorghum at KALRO, with Bt cotton cleared for commercial use and limited trials for Bt maize and virus-resistant cassava. Genetically modified food aid is allowed after safety checks, and seven genome editing projects have been approved to improve crop traits.
Delegates from East Africa Community during the validation exercise in Nairobi.
The East African Community (EAC) envisions a transformative future where biotechnology drives socio-economic development, food security, healthcare, environmental sustainability, and industrial growth across its Partner States from 2026/27 to 2036/37.
This Regional Biotechnology Strategy, developed by the East African Science and Technology Commission (EASTECO), aims to guide the safe, secure, and responsible use of innovative biotechnological tools and products, harmonizing policies and fostering collaboration to maximize benefits while mitigating risks.
“Biotechnology as a critical enabler for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, with the EAC Treaty emphasizing Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) as pillars for regional integration and development. EASTECO coordinates STI initiatives to support socio-economic progress across all eight Partner States, with development partners collaborating closely under its facilitation,” reads the strategy.
The Strategy aligns with major international frameworks including the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, African Union’s Agenda 2063, Africa CDC’s biosafety and biosecurity strategy, and the EAC Vision 2050.
The frameworks collectively underscore biotechnology’s role in eradicating hunger, promoting health, ensuring environmental stewardship, and fostering unity and prosperity in East Africa.
International agreements governing biotechnology, such as the World Health Organization’s biosafety guidelines, the Convention on Biological Diversity and its Cartagena and Nagoya Protocols, WTO agreements including TRIPS and SPS, and other treaties, provide essential ethical, legal, and operational standards that the Regional Strategy embraces to ensure responsible biotechnology use.
The Regional Strategy emphasizes biosafety protocols to protect humans, environment, and economy from biological risks and biosecurity measures to prevent misuse of biotechnology, especially considering dual-use concerns like bioterrorism.
Ethical considerations, particularly in human gene editing, gene drives, artificial intelligence (AI) and synthetic biology, are addressed through regulatory frameworks, public participation, and oversight committees to ensure informed consent, respect for biodiversity, and equitable benefit-sharing.
The EAC aims to harmonize biotechnology policies and regulations to overcome fragmented national frameworks that slow innovation and complicated trade.
Burundi has been a party to the Convention on Biological Diversity since 14 July 1997, a signatory to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety since 31 December 2008, and to the Nagoya Protocol since 23 June 2014 while the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is a signatory to the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, and the Nagoya-Kuala Lumpur Supplementary Protocol.
Others are; Rwanda which joined the Convention on Biological Diversity in 1995 and ratified the Cartagena Protocol in 2002 and the Nagoya Protocol in 2014. In February 2023, it implemented a Biosafety Law to regulate LMOs/GMOs, aiming to protect biodiversity, human health, and address socio-economic concerns. Somalia joined the Convention on Biological Diversity on December 10, 2009, as its 193rd Party. It later acceded to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety on July 26, 2010, becoming the 160th Party that October during the International Year of Biodiversity and the Protocol’s tenth anniversary.
South Sudan joined the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in February 2014 but has not yet acceded to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety or the Nagoya-Kuala Lumpur Supplementary Protocol, though both processes are ongoing.
Tanzania joined the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety in March 2003, with the Vice-President’s Office serving as the National Biosafety Focal Point and providing data to the Biosafety Clearing House. The country ratified the Nagoya-Kuala Lumpur Supplementary Protocol in 2018.
Uganda ratified the Convention on Biological Diversity in 1993 and later joined related protocols. The National Biotechnology and Biosafety Policy was adopted in 2008, but while the UNCST Act provides temporary regulation, it does not offer comprehensive oversight or support commercialization.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has accused former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua of making reckless and unpatriotic remarks during his recent trip to the United States.
Speaking during the commissioning of classrooms and a water project in Funyula, Busia County, Mudavadi described Gachagua as a bitter man who spent his entire tour abroad fanning tribalism.
Mudavadi, also the Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, called on Kenyans to embrace patriotism and reject divisive politics.
“Look at a scenario where Rigathi Gachagua, who has gotten to the level of deputy president, goes abroad and champions tribalism until the people in the Diaspora tell him to shun away from it. As Kenyans, our goal is to preach peace across our region,” said Mudavadi.
He dismissed Gachagua’s claims that the government was working in conjunction with Al-Shabaab, terming them falsehoods and unacceptable.
“Al-Shabaab are terrorists who have caused havoc to the country in the past, killing scores in Garissa, Dusit D2, and various parts of the country. How can a government work with armed groups that are out to destroy its people and destabilise the country?” he posed.
The PCS firmly dismissed claims that Kenya could collaborate with the Al-Shabaab terrorist group, calling such allegations “baseless, misleading, and an affront to our national unity, terming it an extremist group.
Mudavadi underscored Kenya’s commitment to combating terrorism.
He said Gachagua held the senior position in the country as a former Deputy President and, therefore, sat in the security council, a constitutional body responsible for overseeing national security matters.
“How can he claim such false allegations? If he can reach such an extent of lying, can he be called a patriotic Kenyan?”
Mudavadi questioned the DP’s call for the US government to investigate Kenya, accusing him of misleading the Diaspora.
“If indeed Rigathi is a patriot, why is he saying he wants the government of the USA to investigate the government of Kenya? Is it that Rigathi is a police officer in the USA? You are a Kenyan, be patriotic, work for your people, speak for your people, and defend your country. That is what true patriotism calls for,” he said.
Mudavadi said that Gachagua was behaving like a home guard, spending most of his days in the US to vilify his own country, and without giving any objective ideas to those he was addressing.
“You have become a national leader, but you have turned against your own country, and now you speak like a security person of a foreign country, and act like an investigator against Kenya. That is unpatriotic and uncalled for, it defeats all logic and reason,” said Mudavadi.
Mudavadi told the former DP to respect his country and stop acting in a manner that leaves many to doubt his patriotism.
He asked the opposition to respect national security and not turn it into a platform for political theatre, and revenge, noting that the security of the country was a shared duty that demands truth, unity, and patriotism.
“We must guard our national security and stop bringing it into ridicule because of political bickering and revenge,” said Mudavadi.
Mudavadi urged Kenyans to remain united, shun tribalism, and instead support the broad-based government under President Ruto, working closely with ODM leader, Raila Odinga.
“President Ruto, Raila, and we in the leadership are determined to unite the country and continue enjoying the peace and harmony. We need to shun those trying to plant the seeds of discord and tribalism,” said Mudavadi.
PCS called for deeper regional integration and unity among Kenyans, urging citizens to emulate the example set by President William Ruto and Azimio leader Raila Odinga in working together under the broad-based government.
“He lauded the people of Funyula through their leaders and the NG-CDF funds for the water project he launched.
“You all know that clean water leads to healthy living. Dirty water leads to sickness. The water is so much that it will benefit over 3,000 households. Here in Funyula, each household has around five to ten members. This is a very important project.”
Mudavadi noted that the water project will also ease electricity costs through the installation of a solar power system.
“The other issue was to do with electricity, and the water project has installed a solar system so that the amount you used to pay will drastically reduce, cutting down on the cost,” he said.
Mudavadi was joined at the event by former Vice President Moody Awori, who he praised for his legacy in education and social development.
“Uncle Moody has been a pillar in championing education and community service. His dedication to the people of Busia is unmatched, and his presence here today shows the importance of uniting for the greater good,” Mudavadi remarked.
Turning to national politics, Mudavadi hailed the political truce between President Ruto and Raila Odinga, noting that both had been fierce election contenders in the last general election but chose to put aside their differences.
“They have both had large followings. They have now joined forces and decided to work together in the broad-based government. We also need to work together. Just as our leaders have resolved to walk together, we as the electorate need to also walk together and move forward,” he said.
He urged Busia residents to embrace the political unity symbolised by the broad-based government, noting that ODM had been the most popular party in the region, but its leader was now working alongside the President.
“We are united so that we can deliver for the people of Kenya. We need to steer away from divisive politics. Let us be nationals,” he said.
President William Ruto has called on Kenyans to unite, saying unity has always propelled the country forward.
Speaking Monday when he met the Harambee Stars to congratulate them on their victory over Morocco, the president said Kenyans must never allow negativity, failure, or doubt to prevent them from reaching their full potential.
The head of state said that if Kenyans believe in themselves and shun division and hate, Kenya can become a great nation.
“Unity has always propelled us forward. We must never allow negativity, failure, or doubt to prevent us from reaching our full potential. If we believe in ourselves and refuse to let division or hate enter the equation, Kenya can become the great nation we all dream of,” he said.
He said the Harambee Stars are proof of what unity can achieve, adding that the team has united the country. President Ruto has at the same time increased his reward for Harambee Stars, promising Ksh2.5 million for each player if they win next Sunday’s game against Zambia.
“The Harambee Stars are proof of what unity can achieve. They have brought the country together, and we are all witnessing the success it is bringing to the nation. We stand behind you, praying that this time we win will CHAN because it’s within close reach”, the President said.
If the team triumphs in the quarterfinals, each player will be awarded a million shillings and a two-bedroom unit under the Affordable Housing Programme, at a location of their choice.
“A win against Zambia next Sunday will earn each player KSh2.5 million. If they triumph in the quarter-finals, each will be gifted Ksh1 million and a two-bedroom affordable housing unit in a location of their choice”, he promised.
3,600 Kenyan youth are set to receive free Artificial Intelligence (AI) training under Moringa’s new nationwide upskilling initiative, set for completion by December 2026.
Funded as part of a $2 million Google.org grant and in partnership with WeThinkCode from South Africa, the initiative is part of a continent-wide effort to train 12,000 learners across Kenya and South Africa in AI competencies.
Moringa is leading the Kenyan rollout – leveraging its extensive alumni network, grassroots partnerships, and regional expertise to ensure inclusive access to this high-demand skill set.
“This initiative is not just about tech, it’s about economic mobility,” said Nikki Germany, CEO of Moringa. “We’re unlocking opportunities for thousands of Kenyans to participate meaningfully in the AI-driven economy, not as passive consumers, but as active innovators.”
To ensure diverse participation, Moringa is spearheading a nationwide recruitment drive targeting women, underrepresented communities, and professionals nationwide. Partnerships with tech hubs, universities, and industry leaders are driving awareness and enrollment.
“We believe Kenya can lead the continent in responsible AI adoption,” Nikki added. “This programme is how we prepare our workforce—not just for jobs of the future, but for leadership in the technologies shaping that future.”
The British High Commissioner to Kenya, Neil Wigan, has today (Monday) announced his departure from Nairobi at the end of this month after two years in Nairobi.
He leaves Kenya to take up the new position of Director General Strategy and Delivery at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in London.
Reflecting on his time in Kenya, the High Commissioner expressed his sadness at leaving after a “whirlwind two years,” praising the growing partnership between Kenya and the UK in trade, investment, technology, innovation, and cultural exchange, which he said has benefited both nations.
“Since I arrived in 2023, the close partnership between our two great nations has seen the historic visit of His Majesty King Charles III, the signing of the new Kenya-UK Strategic Partnership, Kenyan marines trained by the UK, vital infrastructure investments including Nairobi Railway City and so much more” he noted.
“I have also seen first hand the incredible potential of Kenya and her people. From taking part in a Maasai elders meeting, to seeing how UK support is helping establish women-led businesses in Wajir, from the tea plantations of Bomet County to the Silicon Savannah, I’ve no doubt that Kenya’s future is bright. I have visited most of Kenya’s counties – I am sorry not have visited them all “, he added.
The commissioner noted that Kenya and the UK are making great strides together.
“Kenya and the UK are going far, together, and it has been incredibly rewarding to be part of that journey. Asanteni sana na kwaherini.” He said.
According to the comsision, his successor will be announced in the coming months. In the meantime, Deputy High Commissioner to Kenya, Dr Ed Barnett, will be Chargé.
Before coming to Kenya, he was Ambassador to the State of Israel from June 2019 to June 2023. He also served as Director for Africa at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) from November 2015 to September 2018, British Ambassador to Somalia from June 2013 to July 2015, and British Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo from March 2010 to March 2013.
From the beautifully arranged school blocks, built for learners and a huge playground where students engage in sports activities, lies a hidden yet critical challenge at GK Prison Comprehensive School in Kajiado County.
Here, around 2,500 learners are forced to share just 16 pit latrines for boys and another 16 for girls, facilities that are not only almost full but are also overwhelmed by broken doors, poor sanitation and clouds of dust that sweep across the school grounds, making learning an everyday struggle.
Located just about two kilometers from Kitengela town, students navigate the challenges of education while silently enduring an overlooked sanitation crisis and lack of clean water.
This means that each toilet is shared by approximately 70 to 100 learners, undermining the World Health Organization (WHO)’s minimum standard requirement of one toilet per 25 boys plus one urinal for every 50 boys, and one toilet per 20 girls
For 15-year-old Johnstone Ouma, a Grade 9 student and the school’s Education Minister, the daily school experience is not just about books and exams. “Our toilets don’t have doors; it is hard to relieve yourself with no privacy, we also have a scarcity of water,” he says. “Some of the taps we are supposed to use after visiting the toilet are broken.”
Ouma’s experience reflects that of many others. “Sometimes the younger pupils end up urinating on walls or in bushes,” Ouma explains, “because they can’t wait in line or feel too shy to go into exposed spaces.”
The problem, as fellow student Scovia Akinyi outlines, is not just about discomfort but also health. “We don’t have water stations, that leads to infections,” she shares. “The toilets are dirty, and girls are suffering some even with urinary tract infections (UTIs).”
Akinyi adds that the lack of sanitary disposal bins, especially for adolescent girls, creates added vulnerability. “When changing pads, you just have to throw them into the pit latrine. But it’s not safe or dignified,” she says.
One of the girls’ ablution blocks, also lacking doors.
Water: A Precious but Controlled Resource
Kajiado county is one of Kenya’s semi-arid counties, it often experiences prolonged dry spells and erratic rainfall. Water scarcity isn’t just seasonal but a persistent challenge that affects everything from hygiene to learning as witnessed by learners.
The school therefore relies on rainwater harvested and stored in tanks. However, this is not sustainable during prolonged droughts that is a common occurrence in Kajiado. Austine Steve, another Grade 9 student, explains that water is sometimes locked away due to rationing fears. “Teachers say some students waste it, so they only open taps at specific times,” he says. “If you urgently need to wash your hands or clean your face, you’re stuck.”
Dusty learning environments exacerbate the situation. With classrooms often cleaned by dry sweeping, students with respiratory conditions suffer frequent coughing. “Sweeping raises dust, and it’s bad for students who are allergic,” says Ouma. “Mopping would be better, but we don’t have enough water.”
Strained Facilities with Overwhelmed Staff
Senior teacher Mr. Medrick Ater of GK Prison Comprehensive School highlights that the school hosts over 2,000 learners, around 1,000 boys and 913 girls not including the Early Childhood Development (ECD) learners. These are young children typically between the ages of 3 and 6 years, enrolled in pre-primary levels such as baby class, nursery, or pre-unit, as commonly referred to in Kenya.
Despite this large population, the school has only 16 toilets per gender. “We are forced to manage toilet time strictly. If a student misses the break or can’t finish on time, they are chased back to class,” he says. “Some students come to the toilet just for fun or to follow their friends. But even those in real need must often wait too long.”
He admits the school lacks a nurse to handle any emergencies that may arise, depending instead on nearby dispensaries. “We have seen cases of stomachaches and other illnesses, but we don’t have the resources to diagnose or treat them here.”
He adds, “When it’s dry, the dust affects the children. We used to sprinkle water on the assembly ground, but now we can’t. There just isn’t enough.”
Students and staff alike are united in their appeal to well-wishers, the county government, and Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) stakeholders to help restore dignity and health to this school.
“Just doors on toilets and working taps would be a huge relief,” says Stacy Wagaki, a soft-spoken Grade 9 student. “We are like your children too. Please help.”
Joyce Wangui, a parent at the school and one of the non-teaching staff, shares the challenges parents face when attending meetings and having to use the same latrines as the learners.
“Even when we come for parent meetings, you find that when the children rush to the latrines, it can take them an entire lesson before they all get relieved because they are so many and have to wait their turn,” shares Wangui.
Further, she adds that they have witnessed learners asking their friends to stand guard for privacy.
Learners have been forced to innovate a makeshift and put a black plastic sheet as a form of privacy where the door should be. It moves easily in the wind and doesn’t give enough privacy. Students call it “tandarua,” and it shows how hard things are when it comes to sanitation at the school.
“They ask their friends to stand guard for privacy.”
We are appealing to well-wishers to help increase the number of toilets. “Even for us parents, it’s difficult to relieve ourselves during meetings. Many of us are financially strained, which is why we haven’t been able to organize and renovate them ourselves.”
For now, plans are underway from the Rotary Club of Kitengela to support situation as schools remain so that when the they re-open in late august they get a dignified environment for learning.
For now, plans are currently underway by the Rotary Club of Kitengela, to support the situation in the school and other surrounding ones to ensure that when they reopen in late August, learners return to a more dignified and conducive learning environment.
