State House budget shoots from Ksh.8.5B to Ksh.17B as officials request more funds

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March 7, 2026

State House is set to spend Ksh.17 billion by the end of the current financial year, double the Ksh.8.5 billion allocated at the beginning of the year. Amid concerns over State House’s increasing appetite for public funds, officials claim the initial allocation was too small.

State House has requested Ksh.20 billion for the next financial year, starting July 1, citing the addition of four new state lodges as a major contributor to the rise in expenditure.

As of July 1, 2025, the State House budget for the 2025/2026 financial year, as approved by the National Assembly, stood at Ksh.8.58 billion. The amount has since doubled.

According to the estimates contained in Supplementary Budget 1 of the current financial year, State House was allocated an additional Ksh.8.43 billion, bringing the total allocation to Ksh.17 billion by year-end.

State House requested the first instalment of this additional budget in September 2025, after depleting its accounts for the entire financial year just three months in.

Parliamentary records indicate the increase was made “on account of salary review and enhanced operations and maintenance.”

State House Comptroller Katoo Ole Metito said, “We have not even attained what was our requirement, let alone surpassed it. Our requirement was Ksh.18 billion for the entire financial year. When we requested Ksh.18 billion, we were given Ksh.7.6 billion.”

Some of the additional allocation was drawn under Article 223 of the Constitution, which allows the national government to spend funds not authorised by an appropriation act if the funds are insufficient, unbudgeted, or drawn from the contingency fund.

The Controller of Budget has repeatedly raised concerns about this method, warning that it amounts to abuse of the law when used to fund items that do not meet the threshold of emergency funding.

State House has also faced scrutiny for overspending its budget by Ksh.2.7 billion within the first seven months of the current financial year, raising questions about financial prudence and spending controls.

“You have an increase in state lodges. We had eight, and now four new ones have been built by this administration in three years—in Bungoma, Homa Bay, Kitui, and Kwale. These lodges come with operational costs, staff, and other expenses. There is even pressure as every county wants its own. National events, two of which are devolved—Madaraka and Mashujaa—now require funding for county participation,” Ole Metito said.

State House is also projecting higher funding needs for the financial year starting July 1. Ole Metito added, “We had projected that by the end of the current financial year we would need Ksh.18 billion, but we will be allocated Ksh.16.4 billion. In the upcoming financial year, our projection is Ksh.20 billion, but we have been allocated Ksh.11 billion.”

State House spent Ksh.12 billion in the 2024/2025 financial year, Ksh.11.3 billion in 2023/2024, and Ksh.9.1 billion in 2022/2023.

The institution has also faced legal challenges, with a petitioner moving to court to stop President William Ruto from hosting political events at State House, which may have contributed to the ballooning budget.

KeNHA issues traffic advisory after flooding on Mai Mahiu–Suswa–Narok Road

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Editor

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March 7, 2026

The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has issued a traffic advisory following recent flooding and sediment deposits along the Mai Mahiu–Suswa–Narok (B7) Road near Kedong Ranch in Suswa.

The authority says it is working to reopen the affected section of the road, which has been temporarily closed due to adverse weather conditions.

Motorists are urged to avoid driving through the flooded areas and to adhere strictly to police and traffic marshals’ instructions to prevent vehicles from being washed away or getting stuck in silt deposits.

The region continues to experience heavy rainfall, prompting caution among travellers, especially between Naivasha ICD (Km 14) and Suswa Ranch (Km 39).

For those yet to commence their journeys, KeNHA recommends considering an alternative route via Ngong–Suswa Road. The authority assured the public that efforts are ongoing to restore normal traffic flow and ensure motorists’ safety.

US and Venezuela agree to resume diplomatic ties after Maduro capture

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Editor

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March 7, 2026

The US and Venezuela have agreed to re-establish diplomatic and consular relations.

The agency said in a statement that the two sides would make joint efforts to promote stability, support economic recovery and advance political reconciliation.

While their diplomatic relations have been improving since the US military captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January in a surprise raid, the announcement of formal bilateral ties marks a hugely symbolic step.

President Donald Trump ordered troops to seize Maduro and his wife, bringing them to a Manhattan court to face allegations of weapon and drug offences, which they deny.

The US embassy in Caracas, which closed in 2019, has already reopened, and Washington has appointed a new diplomat in Venezuela.

The Venezuelan government said on Thursday it was willing to advance a “new stage of constructive dialogue, based on mutual respect”.

It said the relationship must result in the “social and economic happiness of the Venezuelan people”.

But the statement from Caracas made no reference to a transition or future elections, unlike the US state department’s.

The US has accused Maduro – who is due to stand trial this month in the US – and other members of his government of leading a criminal organisation involved in activities such as illegal mining and drug trafficking.

Sources say that more diplomatic staff from the US embassy in Bogotá, Colombia, are expected to be transferred to Caracas soon. The move will make it much easier for officials to negotiate face-to-face and provide consular services.

The US state department said its engagement was focused on helping Venezuelan people move forward through a “phased process that creates the conditions for a peaceful transition to a democratically elected government”.

After a visit to Venezuela, US Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum told reporters on the runway in Caracas on Thursday on his way back to the US that it was a “brilliant strategic move” to intervene in Venezuela before Iran.

The US and Israel launched military action on Iran on 28 February. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed during the first wave of strikes.

Burgum, who leads President Trump’s National Energy Dominance Council, added on Thursday that the intervention would help ensure that “oil will flow to America”.

Since the US military strikes on Venezuela and seizure of Maduro, the US has struck new oil deals with Venezuela.

Washington has allowed the country to sell sanctioned oil with US oversight, and Venezuela has changed its law to allow more foreign investment in the oil sector.

On Wednesday, Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodríguez and Burgum said the two countries would work together to develop mining in the country.

Along with having the largest proven oil reserves in the world, Venezuela is rich in gold, diamonds, critical minerals and rare earth minerals – including some of those used in mobile phones.

Former CS Monica Juma appointed to the United Nations

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Editor

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March 7, 2026

Former Defence Cabinet Secretary Ambassador Monica Juma has been appointed as Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV).

The announcement was made on Friday by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres.

Juma succeeds Ghada Fathi Waly of Egypt, with Secretary-General Guterres expressing gratitude for Waly’s dedicated service to the Organization.

Monica Juma, a seasoned diplomat and technocrat, currently serves as National Security Advisor to President William Ruto.

She previously served as Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Defence and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs. Ambassador Juma has been widely recognised for her leadership in security, international relations, and policy formulation.

Her new roles at UNODC and UNOV place her at the helm of the United Nations’ global initiatives to tackle transnational crime, drug trafficking, and organized criminal networks, while also overseeing the administrative and operational functions of the UN’s Vienna office.

10 people confirmed dead in Nairobi as heavy overnight rains trigger floods

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Editor

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March 7, 2026

Ten people have been confirmed dead in Nairobi following the devastating floods that struck the city on Friday.

Nairobi Police Commander George Seda said eight of the victims were swept away by fast-rising floodwaters, with some dying while inside vehicles that were carried away by the raging currents.

Seda added that two other victims died in separate electrocution incidents during the floods in different parts of the county.

According to the county police boss, at least 71 vehicles were trapped or stranded across the city after major roads became impassable due to the heavy flooding.

Speaking to Radio Citizen, Seda warned that the death toll could rise as search and rescue operations continue in several areas severely affected by the floods.

Residents across Nairobi woke up to flooded neighbourhoods, stranded motorists and widespread disruption on Saturday morning after the heavy downpour left several parts of the city submerged and major roads impassable.

According to the Secretary General of the Kenya Red Cross Society, Ahmed Idris, multiple residential estates and informal settlements were severely affected as floodwaters surged through low-lying areas and along river corridors.

Among the hardest-hit areas were Pipeline and Embakasi, where sections of Kware Road were completely cut off by floodwaters. Other affected neighbourhoods include Mukuru Kwa Njenga, Reuben, Viwandani, Kibra, Mathare, Huruma, Baba Dogo and Bosnia.

Flooding was also reported in South B and South C, Nairobi West and Lang’ata, as well as Umoja 3, Chokaa, Njiru, Ruai and Utawala. In northern and western parts of the city, Roysambu along Kamiti Road, Kahawa West, Githurai, Loresho and sections of Westlands also experienced rising waters.

Major highways and urban roads were heavily disrupted, with some rendered impassable through the night. The Kenya Red Cross Society reported that traffic snarl-ups stretched into the early hours of Saturday morning as motorists struggled to navigate flooded sections.

The most affected transport corridors included roads within the central business district and surrounding feeder routes such as Museum Hill, Uhuru Park and Uhuru Highway, as well as Mbagathi Way.

Floodwaters also disrupted traffic along Mombasa Road near South C, Bellevue, the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport exit and Kyumbi junction.

On Thika Superhighway, motorists reported difficult driving conditions around Githurai, Kahawa Sukari and Kenyatta Road.

Other roads experiencing severe flooding included Lunga Lunga Road near the Kenya Power and Lighting Company depot, Limuru Road near the Belgian Embassy, Jogoo Road, Enterprise Road, Lang’ata Road near T-Mall, Riverside Drive, Kawangware at Amboseli, Kamukunji and Kabete.

Emergency response teams, including the military, were deployed overnight to assist stranded residents and restore mobility in affected areas.

The Kenya Red Cross Society said its first responders rescued at least 20 people who had been stranded along Kirinyaga Road after floodwaters overwhelmed parts of the area. The victims were safely evacuated as teams continued to monitor the situation and support affected communities.

A military Rapid Response Unit was also mobilised to support emergency operations in the city. The unit conducted traffic control operations and facilitated the towing of five vehicles that had stalled at the Kariokor–Ring Road roundabout due to the swollen Nairobi River, helping restore traffic flow.

Additional traffic management was set up at the Mbagathi Roundabout, which had also been affected by flooding.

The Kenya Meteorological Department has warned that intense rainfall is expected to continue in most parts of the country, increasing the risk of flooding, swollen rivers and transport disruption.

In response to the unfolding situation, Public Service, Human Capital Development and Special Programmes CS Geoffrey Ruku announced that an emergency coordination meeting will be held on Saturday morning bringing together key national disaster response agencies.

The meeting will involve the State Department for Special Programmes, the National Police Service, the National Youth Service, the St. John Ambulance Kenya, as well as the National Disaster Management Unit, the National Disaster Operations Centre and the National Drought Management Authority.

Authorities say the meeting will focus on accelerating response measures and strengthening coordination among emergency agencies as the country braces for continued rainfall.

Digitalent Systems Director Boris Owiye Agonga Faces Testimony Over Alleged Company Vehicle Transfer

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Editor

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March 6, 2026

By Andrew Kariuki

The case against Boris Owiye Agonga, a director at Digitalent Systems Limited, continued in court with evidence from the company’s co-director Boniface Gichane Maina, who accused the defendant of transferring company vehicles into his personal name without approval from the board.

Agonga is facing charges of stealing by director contrary to Section 282 of the Penal Code, linked to the alleged unlawful acquisition of a Land Rover Discovery registration number KDL 560Z, valued at approximately Ksh 6.82 million, which prosecutors say belonged to the company.

According to the prosecution, Agonga came into possession of the vehicle through his position as a director of Digitalent Systems Limited.

While being cross-examined, Maina acknowledged that Agonga had authority to oversee company assets in his capacity as a director, but insisted that such authority did not extend to transferring ownership of company property to himself.

“He has authority to manage, yes, but not to ownership-transfer to himself. Management is for the benefit of Digitalent Systems, not for personal gain,” Maina told the court.

Maina further testified that the company board never passed any resolution permitting the transfer of company vehicles, specifically naming the Land Rover Discovery and a Nissan Sylphy as the assets in dispute.

He told the court that the company discovered the alleged change of ownership after conducting a search on the NTSA portal, which showed that the company was no longer listed as the registered owner of one of the vehicles.

“We discovered the change when we did a search on the NTSA portal and saw the company no longer appeared as the owner,” Maina testified.

During the hearing, defence counsel suggested that Agonga had been the primary user of the Land Rover Discovery for company operations and argued that the vehicles may have been included as part of a compensation arrangement.

Maina dismissed that claim.

“That is absolutely false. We have clear records of our compensation and dividends. At no point did the directors sit and agree to gift Mr. Boris two vehicles,” he told the court.

The witness also addressed the documentation allegedly used to transfer the vehicles, stating that the signatures appearing on the forms were not his.

“I saw the documents that were submitted to NTSA. They bear a signature that purports to be mine and a company stamp that is not the official one we use in the office. I did not sign those documents,” Maina testified.

The defence also suggested that the criminal case could be tied to internal disagreements within the company and possibly aimed at removing Agonga from the business.

Maina rejected that suggestion, telling the court the issue involved the alleged unlawful taking of company assets.

“This is not a business dispute. This is theft. When you take a Land Rover belonging to the company and put it in your name using a fake signature, that is a crime,” he said.

The court heard that the Land Rover Discovery was later recovered by officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and is currently being held as an exhibit.

Maina added that although the vehicle has been recovered, the company still does not have access to it, while the Nissan Sylphy linked to the case has yet to be recovered.

He also informed the court that the company currently retains possession of two other vehicles, registration numbers KDA 506S and KDB 432Z.

Agonga had earlier been arrested following investigations by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, which alleged that ownership records of company vehicles had been altered using fraudulent documentation.

The case is scheduled to resume on March 11, 2026, when the court will continue hearing the matter.

Real Madrid fined after fan’s Nazi salute at Champions League game against Benfica

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John Mutiso

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March 6, 2026

(AP) — Real Madrid has been fined 15,000 euros ($17,300) by UEFA, along with a suspended partial stadium closure, after a fan was seen giving an apparent Nazi salute moments before kickoff in the Champions League playoffs against Benfica.

Madrid said after the home game on Feb. 25 that it had immediately expelled the supporter from the stadium.

UEFA said Friday that its control, ethics and disciplinary board had decided to punish the Spanish club for the “racist and/or discriminatory behavior” of fans during the 2-1 win over Benfica.

The closure of 500 seats during one UEFA club competition game was suspended for a one-year probation period, during which another similar incident would activate the closure.

Madrid won the two-game playoff with Benfica to advance to the round of 16.

The first match in Lisbon was marked by the alleged racist behavior of a Benfica player toward Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior. Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni was suspended for the second match following accusations he racially abused the Brazil forward, which Prestianni denies.

Benfica also suspended five of its fans for having made monkey gestures at Vinícius after Madrid’s 1-0 win on Feb. 17.

Brazilian soccer player suspended for 12 games after sexist remarks about a female referee

By

John Mutiso

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March 6, 2026

(AP) — A Brazilian sports court said on Thursday it suspended a defender of top-flight club Red Bull Bragantino for 12 matches because of sexist remarks he made about a female referee after a Sao Paulo state league game.

Defender Gustavo Marques was also fined in 30,000 Brazilian reais ($5,700) for his comments about referee Daiane Muniz after Bragantino lost 2-1 to Sao Paulo in a Feb. 21 quarterfinal of a state-level tournament.

The suspension is valid for all competitions organized by the Sao Paulo state soccer federation but does not stop Marques from playing national-level competitions like the Brazilian league or the Brazilian Cup.

“It was our dream to reach the semifinal or even the final, but she killed our game. I think the Sao Paulo state’s soccer federation has to look at matches of this importance and not give it to a woman,” Marques had said in a post-match interview to TNT Brazil. “It is no good for us to play against Sao Paulo, Palmeiras, Corinthians, and they put a woman to referee a match of this importance.”

Later he apologized on his social media channels.

“I was nervous and I said things I shouldn’t have. I talked to Daiane, apologized to her too. She had an assistant with her, I asked her for her forgiveness too for she is also a woman. I was wrong for saying it,” the 24-year-old defender said.

“My wife criticized what I said, my mom did too. I am being a man and a human being by coming here to ask forgiveness for what I said,” he added.

Neither Marques nor Bragantino commented on the ruling. Local media reported the club fined the defender 50% of his wages this month.

Spurs interim manager Igor Tudor searches for answers as Premier League slide continues

By

John Mutiso

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March 6, 2026

(AP) — The numbers tell an ugly story for Tottenham.

A five-game losing streak leaves Spurs just one point above the Premier League relegation zone. Zero domestic wins in 2026. They’ve allowed nine goals in three matches under new manager Igor Tudor.

“Still nine games to play,” the Croatian coach said after a 3-1 loss to Crystal Palace on Thursday night.

Tudor says he “saw something” in his team’s performance that gives him belief for the rest of the Premier League season. Plenty of Spurs fans had seen enough, though, as many left Tottenham Hotspur Stadium long before the final whistle.

Spurs led on striker Dominic Solanke’s goal but fell apart after captain Micky van de Ven was sent off for pulling down Ismaila Sarr. Palace then netted three times before halftime.

Tudor was hired on Valentine’s Day following the firing of Thomas Frank, who lasted eight months on the job. Tudor was given a contract to the end of the season.

Would Spurs’ front office make another change so quickly?

“I don’t think in that direction. I have my job to do and that’s all,” Tudor said.

Asked if he’d be in the manager’s seat again, he responded: “No comment on that question.”

Tottenham’s announcement on Feb. 14 said Tudor’s task was “to improve performances, deliver results and move us up the Premier League table.”

Thursday’s loss extended Spurs’ Premier League winless slide to 11 games. It also extended an unwanted personal streak for Tudor. He was fired by Juventus last October following three straight losses as part of an eight-match winless run.

Tottenham’s only victories (two) in 2026 have come in the Champions League, and that’s the stage for Spurs’ next game — at Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the round of 16 on Tuesday.

Their next Premier League game is at Liverpool on March 15.

Players’ meeting is held

Solanke told the club’s in-house media that the players understand the assignment.

“We’ve had a little chat between us, and we need to understand that we need to improve — and we need to improve now,” he said post-game. “It’s obviously hard to say just with words — we need to show it on the pitch.

“We need to obviously see what’s going wrong on the pitch, debrief that and see what we can change, but we’re not in a position to dwell on anything right now,” he added. “We need to make sure that next game, we’re going to be at it, see how we can improve and see what we can do to change this form around.”

Man United to raise ticket prices and move fans to create more ‘hospitality’ seats at Old Trafford

By

John Mutiso

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March 6, 2026

(AP) — Manchester United will raise season ticket prices by 5% at Old Trafford for the 2026-27 campaign and relocate several hundred fans to create more hospitality seats.

The 20-time English champion, which hasn’t won the Premier League title since 2013, said Friday the goal is to return to “the top of domestic and European football.”

“We want to keep investing in the team and improving our facilities so fans get the best possible experience. We also need to make sure the club stays financially sustainable taking into account inflation and rising costs,” the team said in its announcement.

The price hike of “around 5% across all areas of Old Trafford” equates to just over 2 pounds ($2.70) per game on average for adult season holders, the club said.

The Manchester United Supporters’ Trust called the changes “disappointing.” It pointed to the Football Supporters’ Association’s league-wide campaign for a ticket prize freeze.

“Supporters are paying more and more to watch their team, and as the FSA campaign said: enough is enough,” MUST said in a statement.

“We’ve also learned that 600 more loyal fans are being moved for ever more hospitality,” it said of the plans for the Sir Bobby Charlton Stand. “Those people will be understandably furious, and need to be better treated by the club than those who went through the same thing last year were.”

Hospitality areas are lucrative opportunities for clubs, often attracting tourists willing to pay high prices.

Players’ meeting is held

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