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Political Headache · News in brief

The Latest

Short updates and the details that matter. Times shown are briefing updates in EAT.

Thursday, 15 October 2026

Briefing
Kenya

Duale denies ministry switched off Murang’a’s AfyaKE system

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has denied that his ministry switched off Murang’a County’s AfyaKE platform, responding to Governor Irungu Kang’ata’s allegation of interference. Duale says the system is an arrangement between the county and a private developer.

The denial does not establish the technical cause of the reported disruption. An account from the operator is needed to establish which services were affected and whether records remained accessible; patient-data loss has not been verified.

Briefing
Kenya

TEP’s Linda Mwananchi name-change process advances

The Registrar of Political Parties has begun the process for The Equitable Party to adopt the name Linda Mwananchi Movement. Correspondence dated 13 October acknowledges the supporting documents and initiation of gazettement.

The proposal would align the party’s formal identity with the Linda Mwananchi political brand. Gazettement and public representations are procedural steps; completion of the rename and a final registration decision have not been established.

Briefing
Kenya

DPP approves charges in alleged VAT fraud

The Director of Public Prosecutions has approved charges against five people and 12 companies over an alleged VAT fraud scheme. The decision was announced on 15 October.

Approval of charges is not a conviction or confirmation of arraignment. The charge sheet, pleas and court directions will establish the next stage of the case.

Wednesday, 14 October 2026

Briefing
Cost of living

Fuel prices rise from midnight

EPRA’s new cycle runs from 15 October to 14 November. Nairobi petrol rises by KES 12.93 to KES 226.96 per litre and diesel by KES 9.90 to KES 227.76. Kerosene rises by KES 28.49 per litre.

The higher pump prices take effect at midnight entering 15 October and apply for the next monthly pricing cycle. They increase the cost of filling a vehicle immediately; any subsequent change in passenger fares or delivery charges will depend on operators’ decisions.

Briefing
Courts

Waititu loses corruption appeal; bond cancelled

The High Court has upheld Ferdinand Waititu’s conviction and sentence in the approximately KES 588 million roads corruption case and cancelled his bond.

The decision leaves the former Kiambu governor’s conviction standing after his challenge to the trial outcome. Cancellation of bond ends the release granted during the appeal. The case concerns county road contracts and the handling of public funds.

Briefing
Electoral accountability

IEBC summons Hassan Omar for 21 October

IEBC has summoned UDA secretary-general Hassan Omar before its electoral code enforcement committee on 21 October over alleged remarks about deceased voters made on 11 September.

The proceedings concern Omar’s remarks, not a finding that deceased people voted. The hearing gives him an opportunity to answer the allegations before the committee determines the matter. A summons is not a finding of wrongdoing.

Briefing
Court procedure

Koome and Warsame remain on car-allowance case

The Supreme Court has rejected SRC’s request to recuse Chief Justice Martha Koome and Justice Mohammed Warsame from the dispute over judges’ KES 10 million car allowance.

The recusal application sought to change who hears the dispute. Its rejection keeps the two judges on the case; it does not settle whether the allowance should be paid. That distinction matters because the composition of the bench and the merits of the allowance are separate questions.

Briefing
Parliament

MPs approve Breastfeeding Mothers Bill

MPs have approved the Breastfeeding Mothers Bill, which seeks workplace support for breastfeeding mothers, including lactation facilities.

The proposals address the practical difficulty of continuing breastfeeding after returning to work. Parliamentary passage is a legislative milestone, but it should not be confused with commencement of a law. Employers should not treat the proposed requirements or penalties as already in force; assent and commencement remain to be confirmed.

Briefing
Court procedure

Lamu refinery petition faces service hurdle

Residents challenging the Lamu refinery project must serve the respondents before their request for interim protection can proceed. The court declined interim protection on that procedural ground and allowed amendments to the petition.

Service formally notifies the parties being sued and gives them an opportunity to respond. The immediate next step is to complete that process. The ruling does not dispose of the residents’ underlying challenge or amount to a final judgment clearing every aspect of the refinery project.

Briefing
Developing

MPs back another 90 days of 8% fuel VAT

The National Assembly voted on 14 October to extend the 8 per cent VAT rate on petrol, diesel and kerosene for another 90 days. The vote advances the government’s proposal for further tax relief.

Updated 15 October: parliamentary passage is distinct from presidential assent and legal commencement, which have not been established in the records reviewed. A lower VAT rate limits one component of fuel costs; it does not guarantee lower pump prices.