It’s been a heavy morning. Honestly, if you’ve been scrolling through your feed, you’ve probably seen that viral clip from Nandi Hills. It is difficult to watch. The CCTV footage shows uniformed police officers in a pool hall, and they aren't there for a friendly game. They are seen violently assaulting young men, at one point even forcing some to hold their national IDs in their mouths.
National outrage? That’s an understatement. Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has already come out swinging, basically saying that playing a game isn't a crime. Senator Samson Cherargei is also demanding heads roll. This isn't just about one bar in Nandi; it’s about that nagging fear many Kenyans have regarding the return of rogue policing. As of this afternoon, the National Police Service is still staying quiet.
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The Real Story Behind News About Kenya Today
Politics is shifting in ways that feel a bit like a jigsaw puzzle with moving pieces. You might have heard the whispers about the ODM and UDA potentially forming a formal pact for 2027. It’s wild to think about, considering where we were a couple of years ago. Senator Oburu Oginga is reportedly leading "Linda Ground" tours in Western Kenya to prep the grassroots for this shift. If you’re a political junkie, you know this reshapes everything in the Coast and Central regions too.
Meanwhile, the U.S. under the Trump administration just dropped a massive visa freeze on 75 countries. The big takeaway for news about Kenya today is that Kenya actually survived the initial ban. We are currently the only East African nation where citizens can still snag long-term immigration visas to the States. But there’s a catch—it’s an "America First" policy, so it’s not exactly a free-for-all. It's a "wait and see" situation for many families.
Money, Markets, and Your Pocket
The economy is doing this weird thing where the numbers look good on paper, but the vibe on the ground is still "maisha ni ngumu." The Central Bank just announced that inflation for December hit 4.49%. That’s actually not bad. In fact, the World Bank and IMF are both predicting the economy will grow by about 4.9% this year.
Why should you care?
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- The Shilling is holding steady: Currently sitting around 129 to the dollar.
- Interest rates: The Central Bank Rate is at 9.00%.
- AI is actually being used: Big banks and manufacturers are moving past the "hype" phase and using AI for real things like asset assessment and data crunching.
But then you have the Safaricom stake sale. The Auditor-General is sounding the alarm that a Sh40 billion dividend deal might shortchange the country. It’s one of those corporate-government tangles that usually ends with the taxpayer footing a bill nobody asked for.
Security and the Borders
It wasn't a peaceful night on the border. Two police officers, Abdirashid Shabellow Ali and Kaboole Mohammed Abdow Issack, were killed in an IED blast near the Kulun Border Point. It happened just 100 meters inside Kenyan territory. Al-Shabaab is the main suspect. It’s a somber reminder that while we talk about GDP and political alliances, there are men and women on the front lines in Mandera dealing with life-and-death stakes every single day.
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Health and Society Updates You Might Have Missed
While the headlines scream about police and politics, something huge happened in the health sector. CS Aden Duale just launched the National Cervical Cancer Elimination Action Plan (2026-2030). The goal is massive: vaccinating 90% of girls against HPV and screening 70% of women.
In the courts, things are getting strange. A Kirinyaga man actually told a judge he smokes bhang because his job is "too hard" and he needs it to be competent. You can't make this stuff up. On a more tragic note, the High Court just froze the accounts of five companies linked to Kiambu Governor Wamatangi as part of an Sh813 million graft probe.
Why This Matters Right Now
Everything feels interconnected. The tension in Uganda—where Museveni is currently leading with over 75% of the vote amid an internet blackout—is causing Kenya to issue travel advisories. When our neighbors are on edge, we feel it at the border and in our markets.
News about Kenya today isn't just a list of events; it's a snapshot of a country trying to modernize through AI and trade deals with China (which just gave 98% of our exports duty-free access!) while still struggling with old ghosts like corruption and police brutality.
What you can do next:
- Verify your travel plans: If you were planning to head to Uganda, check the latest travel alerts due to the election-related internet shutdown.
- Check your ID status: Given the recent U.S. visa updates, if you have pending immigration applications, ensure your documentation is up to date with the latest "public charge" requirements.
- Monitor the Nandi Hills case: Public pressure often dictates how fast the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) moves; staying informed is the first step toward accountability.
- Look into the new Health Plan: If you have daughters or sisters, look into the HPV vaccination schedules now being rolled out under the 2026-2030 plan.