Author: Felix Njenga

Kiambu Town MP Machua Waithaka has pledged to expand opportunities for young people to showcase their talents, saying the initiative will help them secure livelihoods, build confidence and steer them away from crime and political violence. The legislator said talent development was an important avenue for empowering young people, particularly those who have completed school but lack opportunities to pursue their artistic interests. Speaking during the Machua Project Fame talent competition at the Ndumberi ICT Hub in Kiambu, Mr Waithaka said the initiative was designed to identify, nurture and promote emerging musicians, actors, dancers and other performers. He said the…

Private universities have renewed calls for the government to extend higher education funding to students enrolled in private institutions, arguing that their learners should not be disadvantaged by their choice of university. The institutions say the national higher education funding model should recognise the role played by private universities in expanding access to university education and provide students with equitable opportunities to pursue their academic ambitions. Dr Kibathi Mbugua, Chairman of Gretsa University’s Board of Trustees (BOT), said private universities were an integral part of Kenya’s higher education system and should be included in government funding programmes. Speaking during the…

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has called for stronger collaboration between governments and the private sector, saying partnerships are critical in advancing shared development objectives across Commonwealth nations. Dr Kindiki made the remarks while promoting the 2026 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) exhibition cricket match, an event expected to bring together leaders and participants from across the Commonwealth. In a message ahead of the match, the Deputy President described himself as the captain of the wider Commonwealth team, using the sporting event to underscore the importance of unity, cooperation and collective action among member countries. “Proud captain of the wider…

Kiambu Town MP Machua Waithaka has raised the alarm over rising cases of suicide among young people in his constituency, citing growing despair and mental health challenges that he says require urgent intervention. The legislator has urged young people struggling with depression, hopelessness and other personal difficulties to seek help, assuring them that his office is open to those in need of counselling and support. Waithaka said the community had witnessed distressing cases of young people taking their own lives, a trend he attributed to challenges that many youths were struggling to overcome. He appealed to those experiencing emotional distress…

For decades, Kenya’s cotton industry has carried the promise of transforming rural agriculture into a powerful engine of industrialisation, employment creation and wealth generation. Yet that promise remained largely unfulfilled as farmers abandoned the crop due to expensive inputs, unreliable markets and inadequate processing infrastructure. Today, a renewed partnership between the government, through the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA), and Thika Cloth Mills is beginning to change that narrative. The distribution of Bt cotton seeds cuts across the cotton growing regions and marks another significant step in rebuilding the industry, with the exercise entering its second day at Kathwana in…

The National Government and county administrations are seeking to harmonise charges imposed on telecommunications companies installing fibre optic infrastructure across the country, in a move aimed at lowering connectivity costs and accelerating Kenya’s digital transformation. The issue took centre stage during the Second ICT Sector Intergovernmental Consultative Forum, which brought together national and county government officials to deliberate on challenges affecting the expansion of digital infrastructure and access to technology. The meeting, attended by Information, Communications and the Digital Economy Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo, reviewed progress made in implementing resolutions from the previous forum and identified areas requiring joint intervention…

Airtel Africa has posted a 20.5 per cent increase in profit after tax to $452 million for the six months ended September 30, 2026, buoyed by rising demand for data services and mobile money across its 14 African markets. The telecommunications group reported revenue of $3.82 billion, representing a 28.2 per cent increase from the previous year. In constant currency terms, revenue grew by 20.8 per cent, reflecting sustained uptake of mobile connectivity and digital financial services. Underlying earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose by 23.5 per cent in constant currency to $1.92 billion, underscoring the group’s…

Kiambu Woman Representative Anne Wamuratha has stepped up efforts to support vulnerable children through the provision of essential supplies to a home caring for children with physical disabilities in Githunguri Constituency. The National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF), under the leadership of Ms Wamuratha, visited the PCEA Kambui Woman’s Guild Home for Physically Challenged Children in Ngewa Ward, where it donated a range of items aimed at improving the welfare, comfort and dignity of the children. The supplies included mattresses, blankets, sanitary towels, beans, rice and biscuits, which are expected to help address some of the institution’s basic needs and…

The government has rolled out a Sh400 million programme to distribute genetically modified cotton seeds to farmers in seven counties in a fresh push to revive Kenya’s struggling textile industry. The initiative, spearheaded by the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) in partnership with Thika Cloth Mills, targets farmers in Embu, Tharaka Nithi, Meru, Kirinyaga, Machakos, Makueni and Kitui counties. The distribution comes ahead of the anticipated El Niño rains, with the government and private sector players banking on improved seed varieties, better prices and guaranteed markets to increase cotton production. Farmers in Mbeere North, Embu County, have welcomed the programme,…

Kiambu Town MP Machua Waithaka has commissioned a newly constructed administration block at Kiamumbi Chief’s Camp in a move aimed at bringing essential government services closer to residents and easing access to public administration services. The facility, which was commissioned on Thursday, is expected to improve service delivery by providing residents with a convenient point of access to government services, including applications for national identity cards and birth certificates. The development is expected to ease the burden on residents who previously had to travel to Kiambu Town to access some of the services, saving them time and transport costs. Mr…