AGP Executive Report

Forex Boost: Kenya’s foreign exchange reserves climbed by $874m to a record $14bn, lifting import cover to six months and giving the shilling extra support. Tax Relief: KRA reintroduced a tax amnesty running July 1–Dec 31, 2026, offering 100% waivers on penalties, interest and fines for pre-2026 debts if principal tax was cleared by Dec 31, 2025. Judiciary Accountability: Chief Justice Martha Koome says individual judges’ performance reports will start going public from July 2026, as courts hit a 104% case clearance rate and cut backlog by 27% in 2024/25. Nairobi Infrastructure: The Nairobi River regeneration drive is advancing with a 27km trunk sewer line aimed at treating 60 million litres of wastewater daily and reducing flooding and pollution. Climate Services: New MoUs in Nairobi will strengthen climate research, training and climate information delivery to help farmers and counties plan for droughts and floods. Politics on the Ground: In Kisii, Linda Mwananchi convoy supporters reported injuries after goons allegedly attacked the motorcade, while in Nairobi an impeachment bid against Assembly Planning Committee chair Alvin Palapala collapsed after the mover failed to show up. Road Safety: Six died and five were injured in a Nakuru–Eldoret Highway crash involving a matatu and a trailer.

Marburg Alert: Uganda confirmed a Marburg virus case in Kyegegwa after enhanced Ebola surveillance, raising fears of wider spread as health officials monitor contacts. JKIA Upgrade: Deputy President Kithure Kindiki says the Ksh154.2bn Jomo Kenyatta International Airport modernisation has officially commenced, with phased works expected to run for three years. Roads & El Niño Readiness: Kindiki chaired a review of road projects across all 47 counties and also activated disaster preparedness ahead of likely El Niño rains. Nairobi Fire Tragedy: A major blaze at Nairobi’s Gikomba open-air market killed 15 people and left 70 injured, with the site declared a crime scene as investigations continue. Water Access Push: Nairobi Water begins door-to-door customer data updates in Ruai and Kamulu to improve service and fix meter and connection gaps. Security Cooperation: Kenya and Italy signed a letter of intent to deepen collaboration against transnational organised crime. Cost of Living Pressure: A Stanbic PMI report links June price hikes to rising fuel and raw material costs, with businesses warning pressures may persist.

Government Accountability: A Cabinet-approved payroll crackdown targets “ghost workers” and payroll fraud, as ordinary public servants feel the squeeze while alleged cartels siphon billions. Public Safety & Justice: Post-mortem results say youth mobiliser Cecil Ouma died from a single gunshot to the chest, with the bullet recovered for analysis. Immigration & Xenophobia: Kenya continues repatriations from South Africa amid anti-foreigner attacks, with 55 Kenyans arriving at JKIA and more expected. Health Security: Health CS Aden Duale chairs Ebola preparedness talks, keeping Kenya on high alert despite no confirmed cases, while trials for Bundibugyo Ebola treatments begin in DR Congo. Trade & Labour Mobility: Kenya and Italy sign an MoU to expand lawful jobs and protect migrant workers. Weather Readiness: DP Kithure Kindiki urges Kenyans not to panic over possible El Niño rains, saying ministries are mobilised to prevent flooding and protect food security. Tech & Data Rights: PS Stephen Isaboke warns marketers to use AI and consumer data responsibly, calling misuse “theft.” Local Governance: Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi rejects calls to split the county, saying development should unite residents. Sports: Kenya targets more disciplines for LA28 after an Olympic Solidarity Forum in Nairobi.

Kenya–Italy Security Ties: Kenya and Italy signed a Letter of Intent to deepen cooperation against crime, including transnational organised crime, with plans for contact points and a possible wider security deal. Narcotics Crackdown: Police arrested a Nairobi-bound bus passenger at Taru and recovered 300g of heroin worth about Sh1 million, plus Sh95,000 cash. Copyright Board Probe: KECOBO suspended the Kenya Association of Music Producers (KAMP) for 90 days over alleged embezzlement of more than Sh5.5m in artists’ royalties, ordering refunds and a halt to licensing and collections. Education Safety: A court charged eight schoolgirls with murder over the deaths of 16 classmates in a dormitory fire at Utumishi Girls’ Academy in Gilgil, Nakuru. Digital & Payments: Vodacom completed an additional 20% stake in Safaricom, lifting its holding to about 55%, while Visa and M-Pesa pilots stablecoins for cross-border payments in the DRC. Economy & Costs: EAC gazette changes could raise import duties on items like mobile phones and baby diapers, potentially affecting prices. Road Safety Policy: Motorists Association of Kenya opposed mandatory inspections for private cars, saying the move lacks data and would burden motorists.

Court Ruling: Kenya’s High Court has temporarily suspended mandatory annual inspections for private non-commercial vehicles, pausing NTSA’s July 1 enforcement pending a July 22 hearing. Telecom & Economy: Safaricom’s state stake sale to Vodacom is now effective, with Treasury set to receive Sh244.2b and Vodacom taking 55% control. Transport Safety: Kenya Railways confirmed a Magadi cargo train fire at Simba Station in Kajiado, with investigations ongoing after reports of fuel-tank damage and sparking. Nairobi Urban Delivery: Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi ordered faster delivery and tighter coordination under the Nairobi Rising Programme, urging results within set timelines. Politics & Performance: Embakasi East MP Babu Owino topped Infotrak’s national MP performance ranking, while Uriri MP Mark Nyamita led Nyanza MPs. Public Health: RUPHA chair Dr Brian Lishenga quit after alleging hostile relations with the Ministry of Health and SHA over payments and access. Tourism Push: Kenya is betting on MICE events to close a 2.3m visitor gap, targeting 5m international arrivals by 2028. Crime & Education: Eight Utumishi Girls Academy students charged with murdering 16 classmates in the May 28 school fire pleaded not guilty.

Payroll Fraud Probe: President Ruto’s Cabinet has ordered the DCI to investigate suspected KSh6.2 billion payroll fraud after an audit flagged irregularities across State Departments, with reforms aimed at cleaning the wage bill and restoring integrity. Identity Services Boost: New national ID live-capture technology is set to cut card issuance to 10 days, with Nairobi residents able to receive IDs in one day, while passports are now issued in about seven days. Health Safety Alarm: The Pharmacy and Poisons Board warns counterfeit medical products are flooding Kenya, including fake Viagra, HIV test kits and dialysis medicines, after market surveillance and court cases involving near-harm incidents. Public Access Upgrade: Huduma Kenya has expanded sign language interpreter support to more centres nationwide to improve access for deaf Kenyans. Crime and Justice: Eight Utumishi Girls Academy students accused in a dormitory fire that killed 16 schoolmates pleaded not guilty to 16 murder counts, with the court restricting publication of identities. Local Governance: Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka assented to a Sh17.19bn budget for 2026/27, prioritising roads, water, healthcare and agriculture. Tech and Security: IGAD’s regional cyber drill in Luanda ended with calls for stronger cross-border cybersecurity cooperation and an information-sharing centre.

Cabinet & Governance: Kenya’s High Court ordered President William Ruto to reconstitute his Cabinet within 120 days after ruling the current lineup breaches the two-thirds gender rule. Public Safety & Rights: Police opened fire during Nairobi protests over alleged abductions in Mathare, killing at least one person, as families and rights groups renewed calls for accountability. Health & Policy: The government approved a Kenya–US health cooperation framework to boost HIV, malaria and TB control, strengthen disease surveillance and labs, and absorb 13,000 US-supported health workers into Kenya’s public system. Digital Finance: Interswitch partnered with Temenos to expand digital banking capabilities across African markets including Kenya. Banking Deal: Vodacom completed its Safaricom takeover, raising its stake to 55% and taking control of M-Pesa. Economy & Work: Teachers and civil servants are set for July pay rises as the next phase of public sector wage enhancements rolls out. Infrastructure: Cabinet also activated El Niño preparedness, with DP Kindiki leading a national response committee. Aviation & Jobs: Kenya Airways MRO says it has completed its first Boeing 787 heavy check, signalling growing in-region maintenance capacity.

Uganda–Kenya Media Freedom: US Senator Jim Risch urged Washington to review security ties with Uganda after Muhoozi Kainerugaba ordered the shutdown of NTV Uganda and Daily Monitor, drawing condemnation from Kenya’s Editors Guild and East African press bodies. Health Accountability: Health CS Aden Duale told the Social Health Authority to explain and fast-track payment of Sh4bn NHIF legacy debts to small facilities, demanding a report by Friday. Courtroom Safaricom Fight: Activists asked a High Court bench to declare the government’s planned sale of its 15% Safaricom stake unconstitutional, arguing it could shift effective control to foreign entities. Nairobi Transport Upgrade: President Ruto opened the Ngong Road–Naivasha Road flyover and unveiled a Nairobi Intelligent Transport System to link more than 210 junctions to real-time traffic management. Education & Rights: Parents at St George’s Girls Senior School protested alleged invasive searches of students during a June 15 security screening. Public Safety: A Naivasha murder suspect was lynched by a mob after a woman’s head was severed; police say the missing body parts are still unrecovered. Trade & Energy: Kenya and Rwanda signed fuel-import pacts to route Rwanda-bound petroleum through Kenya’s infrastructure, with first cargo expected in early September. Agriculture & Jobs: KNEC recruited assessors for 2026 KCSE practical/oral exams, while a Nairobi-hosted summit pushed scaling agricultural innovations to boost food security.

Aviation & Trade: United Nigeria Airlines has joined AFRAA as a full member, signalling deeper West Africa connectivity and more routes. Health Systems: Health CS Aden Duale says all public hospitals will migrate from the Social Health Authority portal to a new Hospital Management Information System. Nairobi Infrastructure: President Ruto commissioned the Ngong Road–Naivasha Road viaduct, promising major congestion relief, while also launching an El Niño drainage plan and pointing to faster Nairobi road works. Justice & Security: Detectives are linked to an attempted abduction of Standard Media Group associate editor Alex Kiprotich, and Gen Z activist Davis Lichuma was found ill after an alleged abduction. Crime: Two men were jailed for 70 years over robbery with violence and gang rape. Economy & Finance: Banks face pressure as Ruto renews criticism over credit access for small businesses, and Treasury projects domestic debt interest payments rising to about Sh1.09tn by 2029/30. Regional Energy: Kenya and Rwanda signed a deal to reclaim Rwanda’s fuel transit market via KPC pipelines. Digital Policy: COMESA begins consultations on harmonised AI and digital inclusion rules for the region.

Judiciary & Justice: Gambia’s Chief Justice Hassan B. Jallow was elected chair of the Advisory Council of Elders at the African Chief Justices Forum, with the Nairobi summit also spotlighting alternative dispute resolution and commercial justice. Education & Labour: Teachers in Nairobi, Kiambu and Machakos say TSC’s delocalisation transfers are uprooting families and ignoring appeals, as they push back against moves to deploy educators outside their home counties. Transport & Compliance: NTSA has suspended enforcement of mandatory vehicle inspection rules after motorists raised concerns, though bookings remain open on eCitizen. Devolution: President Ruto assented to the County Allocation of Revenue Bill, 2026, unlocking KSh428bn for county governments under the revenue-sharing formula. Rights & Safety: Activists renewed calls for accountability after Mathare social justice campaigner Davis Lichuma was found alive in critical condition following an alleged abduction and torture. Governance & Unity: NCIC warned politicians against hate speech and ethnic profiling, saying it will intensify surveillance of rallies and digital platforms. Politics & Accountability: PLO Lumumba warned Kenya is drifting from good governance amid ethnicity, lawlessness and a political class focused on the next election. Energy & Economy: Kenya signed a KSh22.1bn Samurai financing deal with Japan to support local vehicle assembly and cut electricity losses, as debt pressures continue.

Uganda Media Crackdown: Uganda’s military chief Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba ordered the shutdown of NTV and Daily Monitor, saying he “does not believe in a free press,” after soldiers raided Nation Media Group Uganda offices in Kampala, cutting power and forcing operations onto digital platforms. Rights and Accountability in Kenya: Kenya’s National Police Service confirmed it has received a missing person report for activist Davis Lichuma and says it will investigate allegations of enforced disappearances and torture circulating online. Health System Pressure: Hospitals report disruptions from Social Health Authority (SHA) system glitches, including delays in OTPs, pushing facilities back to manual processes and slowing care. Economy and Debt Debate: A report argues Kenya’s Eurobond buyback “bought time” but left debt largely unchanged, raising refinancing and foreign exchange risks. Local Governance & Policy: Education CS Julius Ogamba told principals to stop sidelining co-curricular talents under CBE. Transport & Cost of Living: Jubilee presidential hopeful Fred Matiang’i urged suspension of NTSA’s planned annual vehicle inspections, calling it insensitive and costly. Nairobi Finance Court Case: Suspended Nairobi Finance CEC Charles Kerich returned to court seeking to halt his jail term, claiming US illness treatment.

Press Freedom Shock (Uganda): Uganda’s military chief Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba ordered the shutdown of NTV Uganda and the Daily Monitor, saying he “does not believe in a free press,” with soldiers deployed at Nation Media Group offices in Kampala. Regional Trade Watch (East Africa): Uganda says it has secured about $1.2bn to fund its SGR expansion to Malaba, while Kenya’s side faces delays, raising fresh questions over the corridor’s future. Road Safety Rules (Kenya): NTSA says vehicles deemed “actual loss” will be permanently de-registered from July 1, with number plates withdrawn, while other damaged cars must meet conditions to return. Urban Mobility (Nairobi): Motorists are warned of delays on Mombasa Road near Cabanas interchange as lane closures continue for a pedestrian bridge. Health & Safety (Kenya): KMPDU cautions the public against dental services from graduates linked to a disputed training programme after a court declined urgent orders. Digital ID Push (Kenya): Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen says a “digital Maisha Card” will soon let Kenyans store their ID on phones for verification.

Gen Z Protest Fallout: Rights groups say six protesters arrested during the 2024 memorial march were “dumped” and tortured after being held incommunicado, while one activist remains missing as families and activists demand accountability. Somalia-Kenya Diplomatic Row: Kenya deported Somalia’s second deputy prime minister, Jibril Abdirashid Haji, after immigration officials alleged he held a Kenyan passport obtained fraudulently. Presidential Travel Debate: President William Ruto’s foreign trips in the first half of 2026 are again under scrutiny over frequency, cost and value. Legal Setback for Ruto Allies: A court rejected a bid by three close allies and a tycoon to have a lawsuit struck out over allegations of secret surveillance software. Tax Deadline Alert: KRA says there will be no extension of the June 30 deadline for filing 2025 income tax returns, warning of penalties for late filers. Energy Update for Garissa: Government says a major upgrade at Garissa’s Raya substation will boost capacity and end years of blackouts. Business & Jobs: Ruto launched the Revised MSME Policy 2026, pushing for affordable credit to close a KSh 3 trillion financing gap. Sports: Kenya’s Black Queens WAFCON countdown hits 30 days as Morocco 2026 approaches.

Drug Crisis Watch: Kenya marked International Day Against Drug Abuse with fresh warnings of a national crisis, citing NACADA findings that 4.7 million Kenyans (15–65) use drugs or substances, with the Coast hardest hit. Tax Deadline Pressure: KRA moved to calm iTax portal complaints after delays and OTP login failures, saying the technical issues were resolved as June 30 filing rush intensified. Healthcare Disruption: Doctors’ strike in Kericho is crippling services after KMPDU accused the county of failing to implement a return-to-work deal and pay doctors owed salaries. Nairobi Policing Under Scrutiny: LSK demanded action over alleged unconstitutional policing during June 25 Gen Z protests, including calls to ban masked officers, while IG Kanja ordered an internal probe into mistreatment of a disabled protester in Nakuru. Transport & Safety: KeNHA says progress is back on BRT Line 2 for Kiambu–Nairobi electric bus services, while motorists endured hours of gridlock on the Nairobi–Nakuru highway after a truck accident. Crime Crackdown: DCI arrested eight suspects in a multi-million shilling highway robbery ring targeting courier trucks, allegedly impersonating DCI and KRA officers. Education Access: KNEC launched an e-certificate platform letting KCSE and KCPE holders download verifiable digital certificates online for a fee after identity checks. Governance: Chief Justice Martha Koome appointed Innocent Muganda as PPDT chair for six years, as political parties gear up for internal realignments.

Gen Z Protest Crackdown: Katiba Institute has sued Police IG Douglas Kanja for contempt over Nairobi roadblocks and razor-wire barricades during the June 25 Gen Z anniversary, arguing police violated a 2025 court order and disrupted movement and emergency access. Police Misconduct Probe: In Nakuru, the National Police Service opened an investigation after a viral video showed officers manhandling an activist living with disability during the same anniversary protests. Court on Utumishi Girls Case: The High Court in Kibera barred media from covering proceedings in the Utumishi Girls Academy dormitory fire murder case involving eight students, as mental assessment questions are raised ahead of arraignment. Ebola Update: The US CDC raised its DRC Ebola response to its highest level, citing the rapid spread of the Bundibugyo strain, while saying the risk to the US remains low. Kenya Tech & Security: Kenya plans to link its national ID database with CCTV facial recognition across six cities to strengthen law enforcement. Space Push: Kenya and ESA agreed steps to grow Kenya’s space and Earth observation capabilities, including an Africa Business Innovation Lab for startups.

Financial Inclusion & Fisheries: Nairobi-based Equity Group signed a deal with MicroSave Consulting to boost tech access and data-driven decisions for small aquaculture firms across Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and DR Congo, with a push for financial literacy and credit for women and youth. Public Safety & Justice: In Nairobi, 74 people arrested during the June 25 protests are set to be arraigned in Milimani, with pro bono legal teams on standby, after Interior CS Murkomen reported 355 arrests nationwide. Disaster Response: Gikomba Market in Nairobi is still reeling after a building collapse left at least two dead and several trapped, following damage from a June 21 fire; rescue efforts involved Red Cross and fire teams. E-Citizen Upgrade: Kenya rolled out a new eCitizen flow for birth certificates—apply online, get approval digitally, then print from home or cyber cafés—after moves to cut barriers to access. Ebola Reassurance: Health officials say quarantine facilities are precautionary and Kenya has no confirmed Ebola case, urging tourists not to cancel plans. Environment & Jobs: Across Kenya, land restoration is shifting from tree-planting to income and employment, with agroforestry and restoration services creating new opportunities. Markets Link: Clearstream opened a Kenya market link to help global investors settle and safekeep Kenyan government debt securities more easily.