The Committee on Education and Sports has directed the Ministry of Education and Sports to address the plight of more than 60 former staff of the Management Training and Advisory Centre (MTAC).
MTAC was repealed under the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Act, 2025 and its functions transferred to Nakawa Vocational Training College. Under the law, MTAC’s assets, liabilities, students and staff were to be moved to Nakawa Vocational Training College as part of the transition.
While meeting officials from the ministry led by the Minister of State for Sports , Hon. Peter Ogwang, , the Chairperson of the committee, Hon. James Kubeketerya, said more than 60 former staff of MTAC were left out during the transition.
“MTAC had staff and when the merger occurred, either these people were not absorbed. Why not just get a definite position on that?” he said. Legislators tasked the ministry to urgently handle the grievances of the affected workers, following complaints that some employees were not absorbed into Nakawa Vocational Training College.
The Commissioner for Technical and Vocational Education and Training at the ministry, Loy Muhwezi said that following approval of the merger, MTAC ceased to exist and that within the ministry’s structure only Nakawa Vocational Training College is recognised. She added that the process of finalising the takeover is still ongoing.
Her disclosure that some staff may have been recruited illegally shortly before the merger drew sharp criticism from Members of Parliament.
Jonam County Member of Parliament, Hon. Emmanuel Ongiertho faulted the ministry for weak supervision of the education sector, questioning how an institution could allegedly recruit staff irregularly without the ministry’s knowledge.
Hon. Silas Aogon (Independent, Kumi Municipality) called for investigations into both the allegedly irregular recruits and any ministry officials who may have failed to act.
Muhwezi requested for additional time to present a comprehensive report on the transition from MTAC to Nakawa Vocational Training College, prompting Nathan Itungo (Kashari South) to seek clarity on how far the process has progressed.
Ogwang urged the affected staff to formally submit details of their complaints to enable government to examine their claims.
“I also want to really ask you to help me with the information regarding that person because I have just been asking the Permanent Secretary whether she has received any of these complaints from their grid and it seems the answer is negative,” Ogwang said.
President William Ruto has assented to three important bills, further strengthening Kenya’s legal framework and promoting national development.
The President signed the Births and Registration (Amendment) Bill 2024, the Pyrethrum Repeal Bill 2024, and the Social Work Professionals Bill 2023 at State House, Nairobi.
The Births and Registration (Amendment) Bill, sponsored by Gilgil MP Martha Wangari, mandates the establishment of at least one births and deaths registration office in every sub-county, enhancing access to vital civil registration services across the country.
The Pyrethrum Repeal Bill, championed by Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wah, aims to streamline the pyrethrum sector by eliminating regulatory duplication and inefficiencies, paving the way for more effective governance and growth in the industry.
The Social Work Professionals Bill, sponsored by Kaiti MP Joshua Kimilu, establishes the Institute of Social Work Professionals and the Social Work Professionals Board, which will regulate and oversee the social work profession in Kenya.
“These three Acts now form part of our laws and statutes, advancing our national development,” the statement from State House read, underscoring the government’s commitment to institutional strengthening and service delivery.
With these bills now law, Kenya is set to improve public access to civil registration services, enhance regulatory efficiency in the pyrethrum sector, and professionalize social work, benefiting communities nationwide.
Scores of police officers have been deployed to Githurai on Thursday, February 19, after locals staged protests along Thika Road.
The business owners were protesting a night operation that saw the demolition of multiple business premises at Githurai 45.
Police officers were deployed to clear the road after the protesters set tyres on fire and barricaded the road.
The deployment was to prevent further escalation of the tiff between the business owners and those responsible for the demolitions.
Locals observed officers from the administration police unit, adorned in riot gear and armed with clubs, canvassing the area.
PHOTO | COURTESY A photo of police officers deployed to Githurai 45 on February 19, 2026.
The business owners complained that the seven-day notice issued by the Kenya National Highway Authority (KeNHA) was not enough and asked the agency to reconsider the decision.
They claimed that while they understood the reason for the eviction, they had nowhere else to go.
“We are very sad because they want to demolish our businesses. We do not have the money to rent stalls in Githurai market,” one trader stated.
Furthermore, the traders alleged that there was no plan to build a bus park and that the area was being cleared to allow the setting up of a project by a private developer.
“KeNHA demolitions were to happen within a 30 metre radius of the road. What we hear now is that a private investor wants to come here to build a mall and AirBNBs,” a local stated.
Earlier, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua condemned the overnight demolitions, describing them as senseless and inhuman.
He slammed the government for its lack of compassion and for robbing the business owners of their dignity.
The Judiciary has issued a clarification regarding a viral social media post about a woman named Dorothy Muoma, which claimed she served as a magistrate at Kitale Law Courts and later ended up as a street urchin.
In a statement dated Thursday, February 19, 2026, the Judiciary dismissed the claims as false.
“The Judiciary has taken note of a post on social media regarding Ms. Dorothy Muoma, who is said to have died on February 3, 2026. The post claims that Ms. Muoma was once a magistrate at Kitale Law Courts.
“We would like to confirm that Ms. Muoma was never an employee of the Judiciary at any point in her career,” said the Judiciary.
Despite dismissing the reports as false, the Judiciary expressed sympathy to her family, offering condolences following her death.
“We nonetheless wish to condole with the family at her passing away,” read the statement.
The Judiciary’s response comes after photos of Dorothy Muoma circulated widely on social media, showing her in earlier years when she appeared well, alongside more recent images of her living on the streets in Kitale.
The reports, which spread widely on social media and across some media houses, alleged that a woman identified as Dorothy Muoma had once served as a magistrate in Kitale before allegedly falling into hardship and mental illness.
File image of Dorothy Muoma
In an emotional narrative that circulated online, the woman was described as a former judicial officer who once commanded respect in the courtroom, only to later lose her job, property and stability.
According to the viral accounts, she was said to have been suspended and later dismissed from her position, after which her life allegedly unravelled.
According to unverified social media reports, Muoma was alleged to have been a magistrate at Kitale Law Courts before her life took a difficult turn following mental health challenges. The posts claimed she was suspended from work and later dismissed, after which she reportedly lost her home and other property due to financial difficulties.
The viral posts further alleged that she became isolated, with friends, colleagues, and relatives distancing themselves, eventually leaving her homeless and living on the streets. It was also claimed that she later died on February 3, 2026, and was laid to rest on February 18.
Besides the Judiciary’s clarification, Dorothy’s eulogy, which has also been shared online, indicates that she was an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya, not a magistrate or judge, as widely claimed on social media.
According to the eulogy, Dorothy completed her legal training and was admitted to the bar as an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya in 2003. She worked in several law firms between 2003 and 2010 before joining the Office of the Attorney General under the National Legal Aid Programme (NALEP), where she served as an Assistant Registrar in charge of the Kisumu office until 2014, when she lost her job due to illness.
In 2016, she established her own law firm, Lukas Muoma and Associates. However, her illness made it difficult for her to sustain the practice.
People’s Liberation Party leader Martha Karua has explained her struggle with the Social Health Authority (SHA) after her father was admitted to hospital.
Speaking on Thursday, February 19, Karua explained that SHA footed less than 10 percent of her father’s hospital bill.
The PLP leader stated that she had to dig deeper into her own pocket to clear the rest.
“My father was hospitalised last week, and his bill had accumulated to more than Ksh300,000. SHA only paid Ksh17,000 of the total,” she intimated.
Karua explained that lapses in the health insurance under the SHA left families suffering. She acknowledged that while she was in a position to cover the balance, many Kenyans could not.
PHOTO | COURTESY A file image of the SHA Headquarters in Nairobi.
“Right now, Kenyans pay a bigger percentage of the bills, which was different when we were still under NHIF. Why did the government move away from something that was working?” She posed.
Karua reiterated that Kenyans had to go through a lengthy process. enjoy healthcare under SHA, or at least know somebody at the top.
She further accused the government of enriching a few Kenyans at the expense of the citizens’ health.
“Don’t deduct our money, yet we cannot see where it is going. All we see is people getting rich, yet we cannot ascertain what businesses they are involved in,” the PLP party stated.
Karua maintained that the government had taken a step back by moving from NHIF to SHA.
She joins leaders who have criticised the SHA. Mumias East Member of Parliament Peter Salasya had repeatedly told President William Ruto that the insurance fund was dysfunctional.
SHA has also been marred with allegations of corruption, with the latest expose revealing that the insurance had lost Ksh11 billion.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale admitted the money had been lost, but explained that the Ministry of Health had set out to recover the funds.
Duale clarified that the billions arise from fake claims by medical facilities, which have since been removed from the system.
The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) carried out an overnight demolition exercise on Wednesday, 18 February 2026, targeting informal structures on the road reserve along the Thika Superhighway.
The operation primarily affected traders in the Githurai 45 and Roysambu areas, leaving many counting significant losses as their kiosks and merchandise were flattened.
The clearance is intended to pave the way for the construction of designated bus bays. KeNHA stated these facilities will improve road safety and reduce traffic congestion by providing orderly pick-up and drop-off points for public service vehicles.
The demolitions focused on the Nairobi-bound side in Githurai and both directions in Roysambu.KeNHA issued a seven-day notice on 9 February 2026, directing traders to vacate the road reserve.
However, many traders claimed they were caught unaware by the timing of the enforcement or lacked a relocation plan.The exercise sparked protests in Githurai, where angry traders blocked sections of the highway and lit bonfires, causing temporary traffic paralysis.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua criticized the government for what he termed “excessive” force, questioning the necessity of a night operation that displaced thousands of small-scale traders during a difficult economic period.
Local leaders and traders have expressed concerns over the lack of consultation and the potential loss of livelihoods for approximately 1,600 affected businesses.
Three people lost their lives following a horrific road accident at Mau Summit along the busy Nakuru–Eldoret Highway.
The fatal crash occurred at the notorious stretch near Mau Summit, an area that has witnessed numerous road incidents in the past.
Images circulating from the scene paint a devastating picture of the impact. The vehicle involved was reduced to a mangled wreck, with its front section completely destroyed.
The left side of the car appeared crushed beyond recognition, while the roof had been torn off during the collision.
Twisted metal was compacted into a dense heap, indicating the force of the crash. A deployed airbag could be seen hanging amid the debris, a sign of the violent impact.
Inside the vehicle, the seats were severely damaged and shards of shattered glass littered the interior.
File image of the Mau Summit accident
This comes days after three police officers and a civilian have lost their lives after they were involved in a road accident along the Matuu–Mwingi Road.
The gruesome accident occurred on Sunday, February 15, evening near Mwatungo Primary School in Machakos County.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the police vehicle lost control and rolled several times after it developed mechanical problems.
One of the police officers died on the spot, while two others succumbed while receiving treatment at Kithyoko Level Three Hospital and Matuu Level Four Hospital, respectively.
A civilian who was also in the police vehicle was pronounced dead after being rushed to the hospital.
One police officer survived the accident and was taken to Matuu Level Four Hospital for medical attention.
Prior to that, two teachers were killed after a speeding bus ploughed into pedestrians in Ngara, Nairobi.
The accident occurred on Saturday, January 31, as the teachers were participating in union elections at the City Primary School in Ngara.
One teacher died on the spot, while the other one succumbed while receiving treatment in the hospital.
Several other teachers were injured in the Saturday evening accident and rushed to the hospital for medical care.
“In Nairobi City County, a public service vehicle rammed into teachers who were participating in union elections at the City Primary School in the Ngara Area.
“Sadly, one teacher died on the spot, while another passed on while in hospital for treatment. Up to twenty-six teachers are undergoing treatment for injuries suffered in the accident,” Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba said in a statement.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has vowed to deal with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua over consistently dragging his name in the mud when addressing matters of security.
Speaking on Thursday, February 19, Murkomen accused Gachagua of singling him out when demanding changes in the security docket, despite the sector being a collaboration of multiple entities.
The CS claimed that the Democracy for the Citizens Party Leader was merely attacking him and President William Ruto because of their tribe.
He vowed to deal with Gachagua, whom he accused of incitement.
“Whenever he opens his mouth, it is always Ruto and Murkomen as if there is nobody else in the architecture of security. We are not going to entertain your tribalism.
PHOTO | COURTESY Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen addressing Kenyans in Rironi on February 18, 2026.
“Do not profile me because of my community. Don’t bring your silly politics. I have kept quiet for far too long. We will meet with those inciters face to face,” Murkomen declared.
The Interior CS defended the Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja, from Gachagua’s endless attack.
He argued that Kanja was not in office to serve the interests of one individual, but the entire country.
“Stop undermining the Inspector General of Police; that is not your child. Have some respect,” the CS barked.
The ex-DP had made several claims in which he accused President William Ruto and Murkomen of organising the church attack in Witima.
Gachagua also accused his former boss of instructing IG Kanja to protect the officers involved in the attack from any prosecution.
The United Opposition were denied an audience with Kanja earlier on Monday, when they went to follow up on the probe into the teargassing incident at the church.
Mikel Arteta has called on his Arsenal squad to “stand up” and show their title credentials after a dramatic 2–2 draw at rock-bottom Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday, February 18, 2026.
The Gunners appeared to be cruising toward a seven-point lead at the top of the Premier League after goals from Bukayo Saka and Piero Hincapie put them 2–0 ahead at a snowy Molineux.
However, the leaders collapsed in the closing stages, allowing Hugo Bueno to pull one back before teenage debutant Tom Edozie capitalised on a stoppage-time mix-up between David Raya and Gabriel Magalhaes to equalise.
Admitted his side deserved criticism for “self-inflicted wounds” and a second-half performance that failed to meet Premier League standards. He urged his players to “take the hit” and respond immediately: “When you have a moment of difficulty, we have to show how much we want it”.
Echoed his manager’s frustration, noting a significant drop in standards during the second half and stating it is now time for the team to focus on self-improvement.
Frustrations boiled over at the final whistle as Raya and Gabriel were seen in a heated exchange, while Gabriel Jesus was involved in a confrontation with Wolves’ Yerson Mosquera.
BBC -Donald Trump has thrown the UK’s Chagos deal into doubt as he launched a stinging criticism of the plan that would see the UK hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius and lease back a joint UK-US military base.
The US president urged Sir Keir Starmer not to “give away Diego Garcia” – the largest island on the archipelago and home to the base.
Trump said “this land should not be taken away from the UK” and if it did it would be “a blight on our Great Ally”, in a post on social media.
This comes despite Washington on Tuesday giving its official backing to London’s plan to cede sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory to Mauritius.
In response to Trump, the UK Foreign Office said the Chagos Islands deal was “crucial to the security of the UK and our key allies, and to keeping the British people safe”.
“The agreement we have reached is the only way to guarantee the long-term future of this vital military base,” it said in a statement.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has previously insisted the deal is necessary to protect the continued operation of the base, amid previous attempts from Mauritius to dispute the legality of British sovereignty over the islands.
Diego Garcia is the largest island in the archipelago, and is used as a joint military base by the UK and US armed forces.
Under the deal – which was announced last May – the UK will lease back Diego Garcia for a period of 99 years.
Trump’s latest comments come ahead of talks between the US and Mauritius planned for next week.
The US president’s position on the issue has seen rapid U-turns in recent months – from describing the planned transfer as an “act of great stupidity” to saying the deal was the “best” the prime minister could make.
UK ministers have previously said that the deal could not go ahead unless it had the support of the US.
The bill, aimed at enshrining the agreement into UK law, has been delayed and there is no date set for the next stage.
UK Minister Alex Davies-Jones said the bill would return to the House of Lords “as soon as parliamentary time allows”.
Posting on the Truth Social platform on Wednesday, Trump wrote: “I have been telling Prime Minister Keir Starmer, of the United Kingdom, that Leases are no good when it comes to Countries, and that he is making a big mistake by entering a 100 Year Lease…”
The US president stressed that Diego Garcia was “strategically located in the Indian Ocean”.
“Prime Minister Starmer is losing control of this important Island by claims of entities never known of before,” he said.
“We will always be ready, willing, and able to fight for the U.K., but they have to remain strong in the face of Wokeism, and other problems put before them.”
And referring to ongoing US-Iran talks on Tehran’s controversial nuclear programme, Trump said: “Should Iran decide not to make a Deal, it may be necessary for the United States to use Diego Garcia and the airfield located in Fairfordin order to eradicate a potential attack by a highly unstable and dangerous Regime.”
The Republican president has repeatedly threatened to use military action against Iran over its deadly crackdown on anti-government protests and its nuclear activities.
The US and its European allies suspect that Iran is moving towards the development of a nuclear weapon, something that Tehran has always denied.
Asked by the BBC about Trump’s latest comments, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said: “The post should be taken as the policy of the Trump administration, it’s coming straight from the horse’s mouth.
“When you see it on Truth Social you know it’s directly from President Trump, that’s the beauty of this president in his transparency and relaying this administration’s policies.”
But on Tuesday, the US Department of State gave its official backing to the planned handover of the Chagos Islands.
In a statement, it said it “supports the decision of the United Kingdom to proceed with its agreement with Mauritius concerning the Chagos archipelago”.
Shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel said: “It’s time Starmer finally saw sense, U-turned and scrapped this appalling deal altogether.”
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said: “Trump’s endless flip-flopping on the Chagos Islands shows why Starmer’s approach is doomed to fail.”
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said: “Keir Starmer risks alienating our most important ally by giving away the Chagos Islands, the worst deal in British history.”
Earlier this week, four Chagos islanders – who are opposing the handover deal – landed on the Chagos Islands’ remote atoll as part of a protest against the deal.
They refused to leave it, despite a threat of eviction by a British maritime patrol.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Misley Mandarin – one of the Chagossians who had travelled to the islands – said they would have to “drag me from my beach”.
He said “there’s no reason” for the deal “because Mauritius never owned Chagos Islands in the first place”.
“Keir Starmer, you could be a hero right now – don’t ratify that deal, cancel that deal and let Chagossians come back to their homeland as British,” he added.
The Chagos Islands – officially known as the British Indian Ocean Territory – are located about 5,799 miles (9,332km) south-east of the UK and about 1,250 miles north-east of Mauritius, in the Indian Ocean.
The islands have been under British control since 1814 and were bought by the government for £3m, which led to the establishment of the islands as an overseas territory in 1965.
But Mauritius has long argued that it was illegally forced to give the islands away as part of a deal to gain independence.
In the late 1960s, Britain invited the US to build a military base on Diego Garcia, forcibly removing thousands of people from their homes in the process.
Some of those Chagossians ended up in Mauritius and the Seychelles, but others settled in the UK, mostly in Crawley, West Sussex.
