KBC Channel 1

Author: Prudence Wanza

  • Ruto allies accuse Uhuru of undermining gov’t development agenda

    Ruto allies accuse Uhuru of undermining gov’t development agenda

    Leaders allied to President William Ruto have called on former President Uhuru Kenyatta to keep off the government’s development agenda, insisting that the Kenya Kwanza administration should be allowed to implement its programmes without political interference.

    Speaking on Saturday during a fundraising event for Kimang’eti Technical Training Institute (TTI) in Malava, Kakamega County, the leaders said the government has recorded major development gains since taking office.

    The event brought together President William Ruto’s aide Farouk Kibet, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale and Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa, among other leaders.

    Wetang’ula defended the Kenya Kwanza leadership, saying the Western region stood with President Ruto even when he faced political isolation while serving as Deputy President under the Uhuru administration.

    “Sisi tumesaidiana na Rais Ruto… tulimweka mabega 2022 wakati alikuwa amekataliwa na serikali akiwa Naibu wa Rais,” Wetang’ula said.

    He urged Western Kenya to maintain firm support for the President ahead of the 2027 elections.

    “Tunasema 2027 tusimame kidete na Rais William Ruto kwa sababu tunajua baada ya hapo uongozi unaingia hapa kwetu,” he said.

    On his part, CS Duale accused the former president of attempting to undermine President Ruto’s administration despite what he described as revived development projects in housing, universal health coverage and the economy.

    “Uhuru ile kazi ulishindwa ndiyo Ruto amefanya kwa miaka nne,” Duale said.

    He warned against attempts to undermine the presidency, stating that the mandate of the current government must be respected until the end of its term.

    “We will not allow you to undermine President William Ruto as the President and Chief of Defence Forces of the Republic of Kenya,” he said.

    Consequently, Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa positioned Western Kenya as a key political bloc that will help Ruto secure victory in the 2027 election, while endorsing Speaker Wetang’ula for a 2032 presidential bid.

    “Mwaka wa 2027 sisi kama Western region we have 4 million strong to support William Ruto. Ikifika 2032 kiti ya urais tuna ije hapa Western. Tukona Mheshimiwa Moses Wetang’ula ambaye anatosha.”

  • Ebola treatments trial begins in DR Congo

    Ebola treatments trial begins in DR Congo

    A trial of potential treatments for the species of virus behind the current deadly Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has begun, the World Health Organization (WHO) has announced.

    The first patient has been enrolled in DR Congo, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Thursday.

    More than 1,400 cases and 438 deaths have been confirmed in the country, according to the WHO.

    There are currently no approved vaccines or treatments for the Bundibugyo virus species of the disease, which is highly infectious.

    The current trial is sponsored by the WHO, and is being co-ordinated by scientists at the Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale in DR Congo, the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Belgium, and the University of Oxford in the UK.

    Patients will be tested on two antiviral drugs.

    Speaking to reporters from the WHO headquarters in Geneva on Thursday, Tedros said: “Even without approved therapeutics, people are recovering from this disease, but of course, we could save many more lives with safe and effective therapeutics in our toolkit.”

    DR Congo’s Health Minister Dr Samuel Roger Kamba said the launch “represents a significant step forward, offering renewed hope to patients, their families, and affected communities”.

    The current outbreak of Ebola in DR Congo began in May, though transmission had been going undetected for some time.

    The situation has been declared a public health emergency by the WHO, which says there have been 1,460 confirmed cases in DR Congo, with 150 suspected cases and 452 deaths, as of 1July. According to the WHO, 213 people have recovered.

    There have also been 20 confirmed cases in Uganda, leading to two deaths, and one confirmed case in France, as of 1 July.

    Ebola is caused by a virus which attacks the body’s immune system and organs.

    It normally infects animals, typically fruit bats, but outbreaks among humans can sometimes start when people handle infected animals. It is spread through bodily fluids like blood.

    Congolese health authorities have said the outbreak is currently restricted to three eastern provinces – South Kivu, North Kivu and Ituri.

    However, the Reuters and AFP news agencies report that the body of a pregnant woman tested positive for Ebola in the neighbouring Tshopo province. The woman reportedly died in Ituri, before her body was transported by motorbike to Tshopo’s main city, Kisangani, which has a population of about 1.5 million people.

    Additionally, an individual suspected of having Ebola reportedly fled from an isolation unit in Ituri and later tested positive in the nearby Haut-Uele province.

    Authorities are said to have launched contact-tracing efforts across Tshopo and Haut-Uele. Earlier this week, public gatherings were banned in both these provinces, along with neighbouring Bas-Uele and the capital, Kinshsasa, in order to prevent the spread of Ebola.

    People with Ebola usually only become contagious after developing symptoms, and it takes two to 21 days for symptoms to appear.

    They come on suddenly and start like flu or malaria with fever, headache and tiredness.

    DR Congo’s health ministry said it has improved diagnosis across the affected region. Previously, four laboratories were testing for Ebola, but that number has now increased to 10 .

    According to both Africa CDC and US public health authorities, the current outbreak has the potential to be one of the largest ever, because it was spreading for weeks before it was confirmed to be Ebola.

    International organisations also warn that conflict in eastern DR Congo is making it more difficult to tackle the outbreak. The M23 rebel group is in control of large parts of both North and South Kivu.

    Vaccines must be developed for each individual species of Ebola, of which there are six, but only three are known to cause outbreaks.

  • Prince Harry will not be joined by Meghan and children on London trip

    Prince Harry will not be joined by Meghan and children on London trip

    Prince Harry will not be joined by his wife, the Duchess of Sussex, and their two children when he visits the UK next week, it is understood.

    Meghan, Archie and Lilibet will not travel to London, as had originally been planned, after it was confirmed that the family would not be provided with taxpayer-funded police security.

    It is still possible that they may join Prince Harry later in the week, when the five-day trip moves to Birmingham to promote the Invictus Games.

    It is unclear whether a meeting between King Charles and his two grandchildren, aged seven and five – who he has not seen in person for four years – will take place under the revised schedule.

    It had been thought London was the most likely location for any family reunion, after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex accepted an offer to stay in a royal residence with their two children.

    The King has a number of public engagements planned for next week. Buckingham Palace is making no comment on private family matters.

    The change means Meghan will not join her husband on a visit to the Royal Hospital Chelsea for meetings related to the Invictus Games on Wednesday. Prince Harry will now attend alone.

    Discussions are ongoing around the security elements for the later part of the visit but no final decision has been made, it is understood.

    There had been reports that the later part of the trip would include a visit to Althorp in Northampton, the family estate of Prince Harry’s mother, Diana, Princess of Wales.

    It is understood there were plans for Prince Harry to take his wife and children to his mother’s private grave.

    The visit moves from London to Birmingham on Thursday, when Prince Harry will visit the city’s children’s hospital to support the work of the charity WellChild, which he has continued to support since his move to the United States.

    If Meghan does come to the UK later in the week, she is scheduled to join her husband at Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre to mark the year-long countdown to the venue hosting the Invictus Games.

    Sources close to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said the decision to pull out of the London element of the visit was down to concerns from Prince Harry’s personal security team, which had spent several days reviewing the arrangements.

    Prince Harry had previously said he would not bring his family to the country without improved security arrangements.

    He told the BBC in 2025 that he could not “see a world in which I would be bringing my wife and children back to the UK at this point”.

    The challenge over security has been over the rulings of the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (Ravec), which decides on the security provision for senior royals and other public figures.

    Prince Harry and Meghan were last together in the UK in 2022, at the time of the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.

    He has since travelled to the country alone, and met his father on a trip last September.

  • Large crowds gather in Tehran on first day of Ayatollah Khamenei’s funeral

    Large crowds gather in Tehran on first day of Ayatollah Khamenei’s funeral

    Large crowds of black-clad mourners have gathered outside Tehran’s main mosque to pay their respects to Iran’s former supreme leader on the first day of his funeral commemorations.

    Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s body is currently lying in state at the Grand Mosalla, ahead of his eventual burial in his hometown of Mashhad next Thursday.

    Authorities expect 15-20 million people to attend the ceremonies across Iran and Iraq over the coming days, which take place more than four months after Khamenei was killed in US and Israeli strikes.

    Masses of supporters of the Islamic regime turned out on Saturday morning, reportedly chanting slogans against the US and in support of revenge for the ayatollah’s killing.

    “We came [to the funeral] because we promised the supreme leader we would stand by him to the very end,” 37-year-old professor Reza told news agency AFP in the Grand Mosalla’s courtyard.

    “For a long time, we shouted that we would sacrifice our lives for the leader, but it was he who sacrificed himself for us.”

    Arash Rahimi, 40, told Reuters: “Everyone here has come to avenge the blood of their supreme leader.

    “As our leader has said, we have a blood feud with the United States. Our relations with the United States will never be good.”

    Khamenei was killed during joint Israeli and US strikes on Iran in late February, in what quickly spiralled into a wider regional conflict.

    US President Donald Trump said Iran’s government was “dying to settle” a peace deal to end the war after a preliminary agreement was struck between the two, adding on Friday: “We gave them [Iran] a week off for a funeral because we’re nice.”

    Much of central Tehran will be locked down over the weekend as the funeral ceremony gets under way. It is expected to be the largest funeral ever in terms of attendees as a proportion of the country’s population.

    Khamenei’s body will lie in the Grand Mosalla for three days, alongside the remains of family members who were also killed in the air strikes.

    There will then be three further days of events outside of the capital.

    On Tuesday, his body will be moved to Qom, to the south of Tehran, where a senior Shia cleric will lead funeral prayers at Jamkaran, one of Iran’s most prominent and symbolic religious sites.

    It will then travel to Najaf in Iraq on Wednesday. Following a procession at the shrine of Imam Ali, Shia Islam’s first imam, ceremonies will continue in Karbala before the body returns to Iran.

    Then on Thursday, Khamenei will be buried at the Imam Reza Shrine, the mausoleum of Shia Islam’s eighth imam and Iran’s most important pilgrimage site, in Mashhad.

    Ceremonies beyond the six-day procession will continue across the country for the following 40 days, with commemorative events planned until the first anniversary of Khamenei’s burial.

    Khamenei was succeeded as Iran’s supreme leader by his son, Mojtaba, who has not been seen in public since assuming the role, prompting speculation about his health.

    Whether he will be seen at the funeral remains a key question surrounding the carefully choreographed ceremony.

  • Wetang’ula: President Ruto has delivered real development to our region

    Wetang’ula: President Ruto has delivered real development to our region

    National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has defended President William Ruto’s development record.

    Speaking during an empowerment event in Malava Constituency, Kakamega County, Wetang’ula said the government’s investments in infrastructure, healthcare, education and technical training have transformed communities.

    He noted that residents are now witnessing tangible development under the Kenya Kwanza administration including the construction of two Level 6 hospitals in the region.

    “President Ruto has delivered real development to our region. We now have two Level 6 hospitals under construction and, for that reason alone, he deserves our votes,” he said.

    Wetang’ula hailed Malava MP David Ndakwa for spearheading plans to establish the Kimang’eti Technical Training Institute (TTI), saying the institution will expand access to technical and vocational training in the constituency.

    He said the institution will also equip young people with marketable skills, create opportunities for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and support local livelihoods by creating a wider economic ecosystem in which women can establish small businesses and other entrepreneurs can benefit from increased economic activity.

    “Nation-building requires us to balance development across sectors. The Kimang’eti TTI will greatly benefit the Malava people creating a comprehensive economic ecosystem,” he said.

    Wetang’ula added that the government has prioritised job creation through the education sector, noting that 116,000 teachers have been employed since President William Ruto assumed office, with another 24,000 teaching positions budgeted for in the current financial year.

    He urged eligible residents to register as voters and support President Ruto’s re-election bid in next year’s General Election.

  • Eight arrested over alleged Ksh1.2M SIM swap fraud

    Eight arrested over alleged Ksh1.2M SIM swap fraud

    Detectives have arrested eight suspects in connection with a SIM swap fraud scheme that allegedly siphoned more than Ksh1.2 million from an M-Pesa agent in Marsabit Town.

    The suspects were intercepted at Merille Barrier in Marsabit South while travelling in a white Toyota Probox after investigators acted on intelligence linking them to the incident.

    According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the group posed as customers at an M-Pesa shop, where they allegedly deceived the operator before illegally swapping the SIM card used in the transaction system.

    The fraudulent SIM swap is said to have granted them unauthorised access to the victim’s mobile-linked bank account.

    The suspects have been identified as Benrodgers Kyalo, Evans Mbweli, Patrick Vundi, Emily Mwende, Josephine Kasiva, Pius Mwenda, Alex Stima and Jane Mueni.

    All eight are being held at Marsabit Police Station as detectives continue with investigations.

    The DCI warned M-Pesa agents and members of the public against handing over SIM cards, phones or transaction devices to customers under any circumstances.

    “Fraudsters often work in groups, creating distractions while executing their scheme. If a customer makes unusual requests or insists on handling your phone, treat it as a red flag,” the DCI advised.

  • Kindiki lauds cooperative sector, says savings surpass Ksh1T

    Kindiki lauds cooperative sector, says savings surpass Ksh1T

    Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has underscored the scale and influence of Kenya’s cooperative movement, noting that the sector has grown into one of the most crucial drivers of financial inclusion.

    Speaking during the 104th National Ushirika Day celebrations marking the World Day of Cooperatives in Nairobi, Kindiki said the country has about 14 million cooperative members, with 8 million of them enrolled in SACCOs.

    He further noted that SACCOs collectively hold more than Ksh1 trillion in savings.

    “Cooperatives enable pooling of resources and sharing of risk to build enterprise and create wealth,” he stated.

    Kindiki added that the government is pursuing reforms to strengthen governance structures within the sector.

    He announced that President William Ruto will within one month assent to the Cooperatives Bill as part of the intended reforms to enhance transparency and accountability in management of cooperatives.

    “The Government is implementing reforms to create more transparent, better governed, and professionally run, financially resilient and technology driven institutions,” Kindiki said.

    He added that the government’s broader vision is to position cooperatives as stronger engines of economic transformation, particularly in supporting inclusive growth and development across the country.

  • KUPPET sounds alarm over rising assaults on teachers in Murang’a

    KUPPET sounds alarm over rising assaults on teachers in Murang’a

    The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has raised concern over what it describes as a worrying rise in cases of students assaulting teachers in Murang’a County, following four separate incidents reported in different secondary schools within the last one month.

    The union notes the attacks, which involved three female teachers and one male teacher, were triggered by disciplinary actions taken against students, highlighting what it terms as a growing culture of indiscipline and declining respect for teachers.

    Speaking in Murang’a, KUPPET Executive Secretary for the county Thomas Kimani said violence against teachers was once a rare occurrence but has now become increasingly common, with incidents ranging from verbal abuse to physical assaults.

    “We never used to hear of students beating teachers. Today, such incidents are becoming frequent and that should worry every stakeholder in the education sector,” said Kimani.

    He linked the trend to the increasing cases of unrest in schools witnessed in recent years, including incidents of arson warning that the four reported cases could be just a fraction of the actual situation since some teachers may choose not to report attacks.

    Kimani cited the first incident at Maragua Ridge Secondary School, where a teacher was allegedly assaulted and verbally abused by a student and her mother after the teacher attempted to discipline the learner.

    Although the mother and daughter were later arrested and arraigned in court, Kimani expressed dissatisfaction with the outcome after each of them was fined Sh3,000, saying the punishment failed to reflect the seriousness of the offence.

    The union is now calling for stricter disciplinary measures against students who assault teachers, including barring those found guilty from sitting for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination.

    KUPPET Gender Secretary Trizah Njuguna said female teachers were increasingly working under fear due to rising cases of violence in schools.

    She accused the Ministry of Education of remaining silent despite the growing number of attacks, adding that the union would continue pushing for stronger protection of teachers.

    “As female teachers, we no longer feel safe. Assaulting a teacher is a criminal offence and should be treated with the seriousness it deserves,” she said.

    Murang’a County Director of Education Phillip Wambua confirmed receiving reports of the four incidents, which occurred at Maragua Ridge Secondary School, Njora Secondary School, Kimathi Secondary School and Kibungithu Secondary School.

    According to Wambua, three of the cases involved physical assaults, while one involved a student verbally abusing a teacher.

    At Njora Secondary School, a female teacher was reportedly assaulted after attempting to confiscate a student’s mobile phone when it rang during an examination marking session.

    The student allegedly attacked the teacher before mobilizing other learners who threatened to further assault her after school.

    Fearing for her safety, fellow teachers escorted her home and she later sought a transfer from the school after reporting the incident to the local administration.

    In  yet another incident at Kibungithu Secondary School in Kandara Sub-county, a teacher sustained a black eye after being attacked by a student, who had been punished for reporting late to school. The teacher later reported the matter to police and was issued with a P3 form.

    Wambua said disciplinary processes against the concerned students had been initiated in accordance with the Ministry of Education regulations, adding that learners found culpable would be required to seek admission in other schools.

    He condemned the attacks, describing them as criminal acts that should never be tolerated within learning institutions.

    The CDE urged parents to take greater responsibility in instilling discipline in their children, saying some learners arrive in school unwilling to follow rules because they face little accountability at home.

    He also noted that drug and substance abuse could be contributing to the problem in some cases, although poor parenting and lack of guidance remain significant factors.

    Wambua advised teachers not to retaliate when confronted by violent students but instead to report such incidents to school administrators, the Ministry of Education and the police for appropriate legal action.

    Education stakeholders are now calling for a united effort by parents, schools, government agencies and the wider community to restore discipline and safeguard teachers, warning that continued attacks could undermine the learning environment and the authority of educators.

  • Mining ministry begins public participation on four key policy instruments

    Mining ministry begins public participation on four key policy instruments

    The Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs is conducting a nationwide public participation exercise on four key policy and legislative instruments aimed at strengthening and modernising Kenya’s mining sector.

    The instruments under review include the Draft Minerals, Mining and Beneficiation Policy; the Draft Mining (Mine Health, Safety and Environment) Regulations, 2026; the Draft Explosives Bill, 2026; and the Explosives (Licences and Fees) Regulations, 2026.

    Speaking during a public participation forum held in Kathwana, State Department for Mining Secretary David Onyancha urged residents of Tharaka Nithi County to support the proposed Mining Bill, saying it is designed to protect local communities and landowners while promoting responsible and sustainable exploitation of mineral resources.

    Residents welcomed the opportunity to contribute to the review process, with many expressing their expectations that the proposed legislation will promote safer, more transparent, and sustainable mining practices.

    Among the key proposals in the Draft Explosives Bill, 2026 is the establishment of the Directorate of Commercial Explosives and Inspections, which will oversee the regulation, licensing, and inspection of explosives used in mining and other sectors.

    The Bill also provides for the appointment of a Director in charge of the Directorate, who will serve as the Chief Inspector of Explosives. It outlines the powers of inspectors, including the authority to enter and inspect premises, halt unsafe operations, seek police assistance where necessary, and arrest offenders.

    Additionally, the proposed law sets out requirements for the manufacture, storage, possession, and transportation of both authorised and unauthorised explosives.

    It also introduces licensing procedures for manufacturers, dealers, and pyrotechnicians, as well as regulations governing explosives licences and related fees.

  • Government urges shift to high-rise housing in Kiambu to protect agricultural land

    Government urges shift to high-rise housing in Kiambu to protect agricultural land

    The government is encouraging investment in high-rise buildings in counties like Kiambu where real estate is rapidly replacing agricultural land.

    Cabinet Secretary for Investment Trade and Industrialization Lee Kinyanjui noted that this is the only way to save land meant for agriculture in Kiambu and other regions.

    “Agricultural land is being consumed rapidly by residential constructions particularly in Kiambu. So the more we go vertical, the more we shall have land available for agriculture. This development will help us address long-term food security challenges,” stated Kinyanjui.

    He was speaking during a signing ceremony for the development of two multi-storey residential towers at Tatu City through a partnership between Saudi Arabia’s Mabani Company, Al-Jazira Group and Rendezvous Limited, which runs Tatu City.

    Kinyanjui also commended Tatu City management for creating an enabling environment for investors and residents, and assured them of government support in security matters.

    At the same time, the CS challenged Kenyans in the Diaspora to take advantage of the prevailing investment opportunities and plough their earnings back home to help develop the country.

    He pointed out that about 800,000 Kenyans work abroad and continue to wire money back home and urged them to expand their contribution by investing in productive sectors such as housing, manufacturing and agri-business.

    Observing that Kenya’s improving investment climate presents an ideal opportunity for wealth creation, the CS said the government has aligned laws and policies to support investment through Special Economic Zones and introduced incentives aimed at attracting both local and international investors.

    “Kenyans living and working abroad now have a chance to channel their incomes back home as the government continues to create a favourable environment for both local and foreign investors,” Kinyanjui emphasized.

    He also noted that the removal of visa requirements for travelers from across African has further enhanced the country’s position as a regional investment destination.

    “The stability of the Kenya shilling over the past two years, even during periods of global economic uncertainty, coupled with visa-free travel from across Africa demonstrates the country’s resilience and makes it one of the most attractive destinations for investment in the region,” he added.

    Kinyanjui noted that demand for housing continues to outpace supply, with the construction sector contributing about 10 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product.

    Additionally, the CS noted that almost half of home purchases in Nairobi are made by non-Kenyans, reflecting growing investor confidence in the country’s real estate market.

    Kenya Investment Authority Chief Executive Officer John Mwendwa said the government will continue working with relevant agencies to facilitate approvals for strategic investments.

    Mwendwa added that Kenya remains committed to providing a predictable and investor-friendly business environment.

    The project, comprising two 27 and 33-twin storey apartment towers at Tatu City, is expected to create about 700 direct jobs during construction.

    According to the developers, nearly 80 per cent of the units have already been sold even though construction is yet to begin, underscoring the strong demand for quality housing and growing confidence among investors from Kenya and abroad.