Kenya plans special retirement deals for top judges under a new bill. The Cabinet backed this law, creating a separate pension system for these officials. Current judges will keep their set benefits, but new ones will join a pay-as-you-go plan. The change aims to protect the court's freedom from outside pressure.
Retired judges enjoy monthly payments, lump sum cash, health care, and travel perks. Their spouses keep these benefits after the judges die. Judges can work until age 70 but may leave at 65 if they want. The Chief Justice serves up to 10 years but can stay as a regular Supreme Court judge afterward.
The new system helps judges maintain their lifestyle after decades of strict professional rules. Their final salary determines...
Kenya will build two new major hospitals with help from the African Development Bank. The Cabinet gave its OK for these Level VI teaching hospitals in the Bungoma and Kericho areas. These hospitals aim to bring better healthcare to places that need it most. This supports the government's plan to provide all Kenyans with health services. The country already has five big referral hospitals spread across different regions.
Kenyatta National Hospital stands as the largest health center in Kenya with 1,800 beds. It started running in 1987 through an official notice. The hospital takes patients from other medical centers when they need special care. It helps train doctors through the University of Nairobi Medical School. The facility sees...
Kenya plans to stop taxing retirement money. The Cabinet made this change on Tuesday during a meeting with President Ruto. People leaving jobs will keep all their service payments instead of giving part to tax collectors. This new rule benefits both government workers and private company staff.
The Finance Bill 2025 contains this change, among others, meant to fix tax problems. Officials want to catch people who cheat on tax returns and improve tax collection without adding new taxes.
Companies must apply all tax breaks workers deserve when figuring paychecks. Many skip these steps today, forcing workers to ask tax offices for money back later. This change helps everyday Kenyans keep more earnings.
The government calls these changes...
The Cabinet approved a new bill Tuesday, making county emergency funds mandatory across Kenya. President Ruto led the meeting, during which officials agreed that local governments need money ready for future disasters. This comes after the 2023 El Niño rains showed major gaps in how counties handle emergencies. Officials discussed the plan at an economic council session last August before moving forward.
The severe 2023 floods killed 174 people nationwide - 133 adults and 41 children. Over half a million Kenyans lost their homes when the waters rose. The government sent more than 4,600 metric tons of food to help families who had nothing left. By early 2024, most people returned home, but about 15,000 families still lived in 79...
The Cabinet gave a thumbs-up to Finance Bill 2025, which aims to fix tax gaps rather than add new taxes. After meeting with President Ruto at State House, officials said they want better money collection through smarter management instead of fresh tax rules. Changes will make tax refunds easier, tighten laws about tax evasion, and patch holes people use to avoid paying what they owe. Small business owners can write off their tool and equipment costs right away instead of spreading them over the years.
This comes after last year's Finance Bill 2024 sparked huge protests led by young people. Those riots turned deadly and damaged Parliament when angry crowds set parts of the building on fire. Ruto refused to sign that bill on June 26...
Kenya's Cabinet told all ministries to slash their budgets as part of a major spending crackdown. President William Ruto led the meeting, during which officials decided to work with the Treasury on new financial plans. The government aims to shrink its deficit from 5.3 percent to 4.5 percent of GDP next year. Officials must revise the original Sh4.3 trillion budget before sending it to lawmakers.
These changes come as Kenya tightens its belt through strict money-saving rules. Ruto already announced several cost-cutting steps last July to ease government spending. His plan dissolved 47 state corporations that did similar jobs. Workers from these agencies will move to other government departments.
The president also stopped hiring Chief...
Kilgoris MP Julius Sunkuli asked the National Assembly on Tuesday to look into clashes that happened on Monday in Angata Barrikoi. He wants answers about police using force against locals during land marking work that caused unrest in his area.
Sunkuli questioned who let police shoot at people who had no weapons. He also asked why land officials surveyed the area without talking to local people who believe they rightfully own the land. The MP worries some police have stayed in the area far longer than normal, possibly serving special interests rather than the public good.
Tension remains high after the clash killed six people, Sunkuli said. Several others were hurt badly enough to need hospital care, among them the Kilgoris Land...
Kenya plans to open a consulate in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The Cabinet approved this move on April 29 to support its peacekeeping efforts there. The new office will show Kenya's growing global role and fresh ties to Haiti.
The consulate will help Kenyans abroad with passport renewals, emergency travel papers, and citizen registration. It will serve as a key contact point during crises like crimes or accidents, offering advice and help with possible evacuations when needed.
The mission aims to boost trade between the two nations. It will share market opportunities that can help businesses from each country. Kenya and Haiti made their diplomatic ties official in September 2023, planning to exchange ambassadors based on friendship and...
Senate boss Aaron Cheruiyot scolded police leaders after officers killed five people in Narok County. He confronted Police Chief Douglas Kanja and investigations head Mohamed Amin during a Tuesday meeting where the violence happened. Cheruiyot asked if poor training caused officers to shoot people in the head rather than just stop them. He challenged both leaders about what legacy they wanted to leave behind.
The senator demanded immediate action against officers who pulled triggers. He told Amin that locals had already identified who did the shooting. The violence broke out Monday over land disputes when residents blocked roads to prevent government surveys. People claiming to be traditional owners stopped officials from measuring the...
