The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has dismissed reports alleging that it has imposed tax debts on former Cabinet Secretary Raphael Tuju, terming the claims as false and misleading.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Authority clarified that Tuju remains a compliant taxpayer, distancing itself from reports linking him to any outstanding tax obligations.
“Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has noted with concern recent media reports alleging that it has imposed tax debts on Hon. Raphael Tuju,” the statement read.
“The Authority wishes to clarify that Tuju is a compliant and valued taxpayer. The information is therefore incorrect and misleading to the public.”
KRA reiterated its commitment to fair and professional tax administration, emphasizing that all taxpayers are treated equally under the law. It also urged the public and media to verify information directly with the Authority to curb the spread of misinformation.
The clarification comes amid ongoing legal and financial disputes involving Tuju, including a long-running debt case that has seen a court allow the auction of his Karen property to recover a debt estimated at over Ksh 1.9 billion.
The dispute, which involves the East African Development Bank (EADB), has been in court for years. Tuju has previously raised concerns over attempts by auctioneers, accompanied by security personnel, to take control of his Dari Business Park in Karen.
Separately, the Milimani Magistrate’s Court recently struck out an application seeking search warrants against Tuju, ruling that investigators had failed to establish sufficient grounds to support the request in relation to an alleged false report.
The latest developments add to a series of legal battles surrounding the former CS, even as KRA distances itself from claims regarding his tax status.
Two Indian businessmen have been arraigned at the Kibera Law Courts facing charges of threatening to kill and assault causing actual bodily harm.
The accused, Rahiel Daud and Hitesh Motwani alias Vicky, who is associated with Executive Car World, appeared before Senior Principal Magistrate Zainabu Abdul and denied both charges.
The prosecution told the court that on March 25, 2026, at Taal Club in Westlands, Nairobi County, the two allegedly threatened to kill Arya Anuj without lawful excuse.
In the second count, the court heard that at the same place and time, the duo assaulted the complainant, causing bodily harm.
They Denied both couth and through their lawyer, the accused persons sought release on lenient bond terms, assuring the court that they would comply with any conditions imposed.
“Your honour, we pray for the release of the accused persons on lenient cash bail since they are not a flight risk,” the defence submitted.
The prosecution did not oppose their release on bond but urged the court to consider the seriousness of the offence of threatening to kill. The State also requested that a pre-bail report be prepared to assess the accused persons’ background and ties to the community.
Additionally, the prosecution asked the court to impose restrictions preventing the accused from leaving the court’s jurisdiction.
The court was also informed that the two are allegedly linked to other activities involving fraud and extortion, although no formal charges on those claims were presented in the current proceedings.
In its ruling, the court directed that the accused be detained at Parklands Police Station until Monday, March 30, 2026, pending the preparation of a pre-bail report to guide the determination of bond terms.
Earlier, the defence had sought to defer plea taking, alleging that the accused were forced to record statements under questionable circumstances at Capitol Hill Police Station and calling for a review of the charges by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
However, the magistrate dismissed the request, noting that charge sheets presented before the court are reviewed and approved by the DPP after considering the evidence submitted by investigators.
The matter will be mentioned on March 30, 2026, for further directions on bond and bail.
The Ministry of Interior has officially declared parts of Laikipia, Meru, and Isiolo counties as security-disturbed and dangerous.
In a special gazette notice on Thursday, March 26, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said that this declaration will enable security agencies to dismantle criminal elements in the region, including bandits.
The affected areas in Laikipia County include parts of Laikipia North, such as Mugogo Forest, Mugogodo, Sieku, Makuriani, and Doldol.
In Meru County, sections of Tigania East and Igembe North sub-counties, including Mlima Rasta, Mlima Lombolio, Mworontoi Belt, Nyambene Game Reserve, and Ngatho Dam area, have also been marked as disturbed areas.
In Isiolo County, the declaration will cover parts of Isiolo North, including Sarova Game Reserve, Lowangishu Hills, Mutuyni, and Loruku Hills.
Murkomen has said that the declaration will take effect on Thursday, March 26, at 6pm for a period of 30 days and may be extended or withdrawn earlier, depending on the security situation in the counties.
“We have declared parts of Laikipia, Meru, and Isiolo counties as security-disturbed and dangerous to facilitate a major security operation to weed out perpetrators of recent incidents of criminal activities in the areas,” Murkomen said.
“This operation, which also involves a mop-up of illegal firearms, follows our earlier deployment of 400 additional police officers to reinforce the officers on the ground, among other measures,” he added.
The declaration comes just a month after Murkomen said that the government would also deploy the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and National Intelligence Service (NIS) in these counties to help in weeding out the bandits in these counties.
Speaking during a security engagement in Isiolo on Tuesday, February 3, Murkomen said that the officers will also reopen roads in the three counties that had been closed because of insecurity to allow security operations to be carried out more effectively.
Security chiefs in these counties were also instructed to launch a crackdown on police officers accused of abetting insecurity, either by failing to act against criminals or by colluding with them in carrying out criminal activities.
“Within the next few weeks, we are working with the Ministry of Roads to ensure that some roads in Samburu, Isiolo, and Laikipia are opened to ensure that the places where we will be doing the operations will be accessible,” Murkomen said.
“This operation will be multi-agency because it will involve all the security agencies, and the Commander-in-Chief, who is our president, has given marching orders to restore security in Isiolo, Meru, and parts of Laikipia,” he added.
For weeks, a stoic silence has emanated from the corridors of the Ministry of Interior following damning allegations of Kenyan passports falling into the hands of unqualified foreign nationals.
It is a document that embodies the pride of a nation and serves as a gateway to countries across the globe. However, in recent weeks, the Kenyan passport has been at the centre of a brewing international controversy.
Allegations surfaced in February that the Kenyan passport was being issued to individuals of questionable standing, including RSF paramilitary members from war-torn Sudan and a Zimbabwean tycoon with a criminal record and who is under international scrutiny.
Initially, the government’s response was a wall of silence. Even when appearing before parliamentary committees, officials maintained a firm no to the claims.
On Thursday, Principal Secretary for Immigration, Dr Belio Kipsang, addressed the elephant in the room, insisting that the matter has reached the highest levels of governmental engagement.
“We still have critical discussion, and my CS and CS for Foreign Affairs are engaged and seized of those issues, mainly on those issues of those passports, and I do not want to go into that,” said Dr Kipsang.
Despite the swirling rumours and leaked documents that ignited the saga, the PS was quick to dismiss the validity of the evidence currently in the public domain
“If you clearly looked at that document, it never indicated that those guys were having passports, and as I said earlier, this is an issue of national interest,” he added.
At stake is more than just a piece of paper. Currently ranked 68th globally and top ten in Africa, the Kenyan passport’s power is a result of years of vetting and security protocols. Any breach in its issuance could lead to a downgrade in its international standing and the loss of visa-free privileges for millions of Kenyans.
“We have reason to protect our passport… it is the best in the East African region. We have very good reason to protect the integrity of our identification documents… it is a cardinal duty.”
“We have not issued any of our documents to individuals who do not meet the criteria of issuance. Anybody who may have been issued docs and people who we have issued our docs are people who meet the requirements,” Kipsang said.
As the Ministry fights to clear its name on the passport front, it is simultaneously racing against time on the domestic front. An accelerated National ID issuance campaign is currently underway across the forty-seven counties.
The goal is ambitious: to get 11 million people issued with IDs by July next year. For the government, the ID is the foundation of the democratic process. For the citizens, it is their identity. But as the passport saga lingers, the question remains: How airtight are the gates that guard Kenya’s most sensitive documents?
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has been excluded from attending the upcoming G7 Summit in France, with Pretoria citing pressure from the United States as the reason for the decision.
According to Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, France’s decision to rescind Ramaphosa’s invitation followed mounting diplomatic pressure from Washington.
“We’ve learnt that due to sustained pressure, France has had to withdraw its invitation to South Africa to attend the G7 meeting,” Magwenya told AFP.
He added that Washington had indicated South Africa’s participation could influence whether the United States itself would attend the summit scheduled for June 15–17 in Évian, France.
“We are told that the Americans threatened to boycott the G7 if South Africa was invited,” Magwenya said.
Despite the development, Pretoria moved to contain any diplomatic fallout with Paris, framing the episode as separate from broader bilateral ties.
“This will have no impact on the strength and close nature of our bilateral relationship with France,” Magwenya said.
He added that Pretoria would continue engaging Washington, even as tensions persist, emphasising dialogue over escalation.
“Notwithstanding all of these developments, South Africa remains committed to engage constructively with the US,” Magwenya said.
The disinvitation from the G7 comes amid a broader pattern of friction between Washington and Pretoria. Under President Donald Trump, relations between the two countries have been increasingly strained over domestic policies, trade disputes, and multilateral engagements.
Tensions have also played out in international forums. The United States skipped last year’s G20 summit in South Africa and publicly criticised the country’s human rights record, highlighting disagreements that extend beyond domestic policy. Trade measures, including high tariffs on South African exports, have further complicated the relationship.
Foreign policy disputes have also added another layer to the rift. South Africa’s decision to bring a case against Israel to the International Court of Justice, accusing it of committing genocide in Gaza, has similarly drawn repeated criticism from Washington.
The government has put in place robust measures that will forestall effects on fuel and commodity supplies as a result of the war raging in the Middle East, President William Ruto has said.
The President explained that the government, in consultation with regional partners, is working with stakeholders to ensure that the country does not face fuel shortages.
He also warned that the government will not entertain artificial fuel shortages caused by profiteers.
“As a government, we are working to mitigate and reduce the effects of the challenge we have in the Middle East. So far, we have made very good progress,” he said.
The President pointed out that he was hopeful that, through dialogue and other interventions, the war in the Middle East will de-escalate.
If the war in the Middle East lasts long, it will continue to have negative effects on Kenya’s economy, as well as regional and global economies.
The President spoke during a press briefing following talks with President Daniel Francisco Chapo of Mozambique at State House Nairobi on Thursday.
President Chapo is on an Official Visit to Kenya and was the chief guest at the 4th Kenya International Investment Conference on Wednesday.
Fuel prices in Kenya have stabilised since the country entered into a Government-to-Government (G-to-G) oil deal with oil marketers in the Gulf in 2023.
Since then, prices of petroleum products and the exchange rate have been stable. The G-to-G arrangement is expected to continue shielding Kenya from volatile fuel prices.
Ange Postecoglou said Thursday he was “not done yet” while admitting it was hard to watch as the two clubs that dumped him last year battle to avoid English Premier League relegation.
The former Celtic, Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham Forest boss has been out of work since October.
But the Australian is almost ready to take the plunge back into the turbulent waters of European football.
“I want to win things still. I still have that drive and passion to achieve, that hasn’t changed,” he told Australian sport’s radio station SEN.
“The fact now it’s the first time I’m coming off a bad experience — that’s just more fuel for me.
“Wherever I go there will be plenty of scepticism — that’s brilliant, that’s what I need. Get the gloves, put the helmet on again and go really hard.
“I still feel like what I do still has an impact at this level,” he added. “I’m not done yet, mate!”
Postecoglou, 60, said he does not know exactly where he will go next, but “I’ve got an idea”.
“I think part of it is going to be making sure that the people I work with are ready for what I’m going to deliver and that they understand me as a person and the kind of football (I play), and I see the ambition in them,” he said.
“I know whatever it is going to be, I have this thing in my head that this will be the best one I’ve done yet because of the recent experiences, maybe I needed them.”
Postecoglou oversaw the end of Spurs’ 17-year wait for a major trophy when they beat Manchester United in the 2025 Europa League final.
But poor league form meant he was still sacked after two years in the role before an ill-fated 40 days as Forest boss before being axed in October.
Since his departure, both clubs have continued to struggle and are in a desperate relegation fight with Tottenham just one point above the drop zone and Forest three.
The two sides met in a crunch clash on Sunday, with Spurs collapsing to a 3-0 home defeat.
Postecoglou said it was “uncomfortable” watching the game with the Australian still attached to the London club despite how his tenure ended.
“To watch them struggle has not been easy and it’s not the way I thought it would go,” he said.
“They’re in a hell of a fight, relegation is massive for any club but for Tottenham, it’s a pretty big deal.
“They have some fighting to do and they have the quality to get out. They need a circuit-breaker for sure.”
President William Ruto has issued a stern warning to oil marketers who are devising plans to cause artificial fuel shortage in the country amid ongoing conflict in Middle East which has disrupted supply of oil and gas in the global market.
Speaking during the signing of bilateral agreements between Kenya and Mozambique at State House Nairobi, President Ruto said his administration has already commenced talks with local and regional stakeholders on how to address the situation as a result of disruptions in fuel supply.
“We have also been very clear to our oil marketers and those who have storage capabilities that the Government of Kenya is not going to entertain any artificial shortages that are meant to benefit profiteers. We are going to be very careful working with all the stakeholders to make sure every participant works with the condition of the licensing so that we don’t exacerbate or accelerate the negative effects but instead we work together to mitigate and minimize the effects,” said President Ruto.
Already, some consumers have begun reporting fuel shortages in some of the outlets. Vivo Kenya which operates Shell Kenya and is among the largest oil marketers in Kenya has acknowledge fuel shortage which it has attributed to rising demand.
“We have recently experienced increased demand for our products, which has resulted in temporary stock-outs at some service stations. Our teams are closely monitoring the situation and working continuously to replenish affected sites as quickly as possible,” said Vivo Kenya on Thursday.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA) the conflict which erupted in February 28 triggered by a joint attack on Iran by the United States and Israel has resulted to the largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market pushing crude oil prices to above $100 per barrel leading to sharp increases in fuel prices including liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
With Iran placing restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz, a key chokepoint which is responsible for handling 20pc of global oil consumption, IEA is projecting the situation to worsen should the situation continue to escalate. The route handles an estimated 20 million barrels of crude oil and oil products daily.
“The war in the Middle East is creating a major energy crisis, including the largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market. In the absence of a swift resolution, the impacts on energy markets and economies are set to become more and more severe,” said Fatih Birol IEA Executive Director.
President Ruto has also assured Kenyans that the government is also exploring alternatives in the event the war in the Middle East escalates. The Energy Ministry has also embarked on engagement with fuel suppliers and oil producers to find necessary alternative sources that would mitigate any fuel shortages.
“There have been consultations not just within Kenya but also as a region. We have discussed with our regional partners on the interventions necessary for us to forestall any serious effects the challenge of the Middle East crisis is going to pose to our economies both in terms of fuel supply and commodities supply,” added President Ruto.
The government currently sources the country’s fuel under the Government-to Government fuel agreement with state owned oil marketers from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
Kenya Power has announced scheduled power interruptions affecting parts of Nairobi, Kisumu, and Nyeri counties on Friday, March 27.
In a notice on Thursday, March 26, the company said the planned outages are part of routine maintenance works, adding that most of the affected areas will experience power cuts from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
In the Nairobi, the outage will affect Gachie and surrounding areas, including Red Hill Road, Nyari Estate, Thigiri Farm, and Thigiri Ridge.
Additionally, parts of Riverside Drive and Chiromo Campus will also be impacted.
Areas listed under this interruption include Kolobot Drive, Arboretum Road, Riverside Gardens, sections of Riverside Drive, Prime Bank Riverside, Dusit D2, University of Nairobi Chiromo Campus, Chiromo Hostels, part of State House Road, Kileleshwa, Waiyaki Way, and nearby customers.
In Kisumu County, the outage will cover the Grand Royal Switz Hotel area.
Locations expected to be affected include Farm Engineering, Grand Royal Switz Hotel, Bukna, Balance Park Hotel, Kapco Primary, Kiboswa, and adjacent customers.
Meanwhile, in Nyeri County, two separate areas will experience power interruptions.
The first includes Gatitu, Kagumo, and Sugarbaker areas, affecting locations such as Sugarbaker, Senior Wambugu Hotel, Michuki, Gatitu Market, Meskins Dairies, Kihoro Forest, Kagumo Teachers College, and surrounding customers.
The second outage zone covers Kirimara and Le-Prestine, including Kirimara Coffee Factory, Kanuna Village, Kanuna Water Project, and nearby areas.
Laikipia University has announced a phased reopening and resumption of academic activities following a temporary shutdown triggered by student unrest.
In a statement on Thursday, March 26, the institution confirmed that measures have been put in place to ensure safety and continuity of learning.
“Following the closure of the University on 23rd March 2026 due to student unrest, the 197th University Senate held on 25th March 2026 approved a phased and controlled resumption of academic activities to ensure safety, continuity of learning, and institutional stability,” the statement read.
According to the university, the reopening will take place in stages, with different groups of students returning on separate dates.
Final-year students, second-year students, as well as those enrolled in PGDE and TVET programmes, are expected to report back on Sunday, March 29.
First-year and third-year students will resume later, on Sunday, April 26.
The institution has also issued strict guidelines that students must adhere to ahead of their return.
It emphasized the need for proper identification, stating that all learners must carry valid student identification cards to access the campus.
Additionally, students are required to complete semester registration before reporting and must have cleared their fees in full.
The university further called for cooperation from the student body to ensure that the reopening process proceeds without further disruption.
“Therefore, all students are required to cooperate fully with university authorities to ensure a smooth and successful resumption of academic activities,” the statement added.
File image of Laikipia University
The closure followed the tragic death of a first-year student who lost his life during a hiking excursion in Nyandarua County.
In a statement on Saturday, March 21, the university identified the deceased as Hillary Vulimu, a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Media student, whose life was cut short after a hiking accident at Subukia View Point.
“It is with profound sorrow that Laikipia University announces the untimely passing of Hillary Vulimu, Registration Number HD/COM/3444/25. He was a cherished first-year student who was pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Media.
“Hillary tragically lost his life following an accident at Subukia View Point on Friday, 20th March 2026, while hiking with fellow students, when he was struck by a rock,” the statement read.
According to the university, fellow students acted swiftly after the incident, rushing him to a nearby medical facility for urgent care before he was referred for specialized treatment.
“Following the incident, the students promptly arranged for his transport to Michael Nursing Home, Subukia for immediate first aid. The facility referred him to Nyahururu County Referral Hospital for further medical attention.
“The hospital organized an ambulance to have him transferred to Nyahururu with coordination with the University. Regrettably, he passed away while at the Nyahururu County Referral Hospital casualty receiving treatment,” the statement added.
University officials, led by the Dean of Students, moved quickly to support both the family and affected students, while coordinating necessary arrangements at the hospital.
“The University, through the Dean of Students (DOS), visited the Nyahururu County Referral Hospital to oversee all necessary arrangements. The University also immediately contacted Hillary’s parents to break the sad news while also assuring them of our unwavering support during this profoundly painful time,” the statement noted.
The institution expressed deep sorrow over the loss, urging students and the wider university community to stand together in mourning and offer support to the bereaved family.
“As a community, we are devastated by this loss. We appeal to students and the entire Laikipia University community to show support and tolerance at this time of sorrow,” the statement continued.
The university also issued a safety advisory, warning students against venturing into potentially dangerous areas, especially during the ongoing rainy season, and called for sensitivity in handling content related to the incident.
“We also wish to urge all students to avoid risky areas, particularly during this rainy season when rocks may be loose and trails can be hazardous. Furthermore, we strongly advise against sharing videos or photos of the incident, as such actions only exacerbate the anguish of Hillary’s parents, relatives, and friends,” the statement concluded.
