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Civil society pressures govt to publish IMF governance report in 30 days

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Civil society organisations, including the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) and the Okoa Uchumi campaign, are calling on the National Assembly to require the government to make public the International Monetary Fund’s Governance and Corruption Diagnostic Report on Kenya within 30 days.

The petition has also been endorsed by Transparency International Kenya, Amnesty International Kenya and Oxfam Kenya, among others.

In a formal petition submitted to Parliament on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, the groups argue that the report, commissioned by the Kenyan government and conducted by the IMF, contains critical findings on systemic governance weaknesses, corruption vulnerabilities and institutional gaps affecting the management of public resources.

Despite being completed and handed over to the government, the report has not been made public.

The groups say the document is of significant public interest, particularly as Kenyans face rising taxes, a high cost of living and growing concerns over public debt management.

“At a time when Kenyans are being required to bear increased taxation and other economic adjustment measures in the name of fiscal stability, it is both reasonable and just that citizens and their elected representatives have access to information on governance weaknesses and corruption risks affecting the raising and use of public resources,” the petition read in part.

“Disclosure of the Governance and Corruption Diagnostic would strengthen accountability, enable meaningful public participation and help restore public confidence in ongoing economic reforms.”

Moreover, the petition is addressed to Speaker Moses Wetang’ula and several key parliamentary committee chairpersons, including those overseeing finance, budget, justice and public accounts.

The civil society groups want Parliament to exercise its constitutional oversight role and ensure the document is tabled, scrutinised and made accessible to the public.

According to the petition, the IMF conducted the diagnostic assessment in mid-2025, examining governance challenges across key sectors such as public financial management, procurement systems, tax administration, state-owned enterprises and anti-corruption enforcement mechanisms.

The process included consultations with government agencies, oversight bodies and civil society actors.

However, the petitioners raised concerns that the government has already begun implementing some recommendations from the report internally, without allowing Parliament or the public to review its contents.

“This selective engagement with the report, without allowing Parliament or the public to scrutinise its contents, undermines the principles of transparency and public participation that should underpin governance reform,” the petition states.

Important policy decisions

The groups also warn that key policy decisions tied to IMF-supported programmes, including fiscal reforms, debt management strategies and the operation of new financing mechanisms such as the National Infrastructure Fund (NIF), could be influenced by the report’s findings.

Among their demands, the petitioners urge Parliament to table the full, unredacted report before the National Assembly and provide a formal government response outlining planned reforms.

They also asked Parliament to facilitate public hearings and participation in reviewing the report and bar any new IMF-supported lending programme until the report is disclosed and debated.

The groups maintain that making the report public would align Kenya with international best practices on fiscal transparency and help restore public confidence in ongoing economic reforms.

Parliament is expected to consider the petition in line with its standing orders, which provide for citizen submissions on matters within its mandate-People Daily.Digital.

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National Assembly dismisses claims Sacco Bill is being rushed through Parliament

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The National Assembly has dismissed reports that the Sacco Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2025, is being rushed through Parliament, saying the proposed law is still undergoing public participation.

Through infographics shared on Facebook on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, Parliament said misleading information had been circulating online about the Bill, formally known as the Sacco Societies (Amendment) Bill, National Assembly Bill No. 32 of 2025.

Bill was published in June 2025

The National Assembly said the Bill was published on June 30, 2025, and had remained under consideration for more than 12 months.

It rejected suggestions that lawmakers were fast-tracking the proposed amendments without allowing enough time for scrutiny.

According to Parliament, the lengthy period between the publication of the Bill and its current consideration shows that it is not being rushed.

Bill currently before the National Assembly committee

The Sacco Societies Amendment Bill is currently before the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Trade, Industry and Cooperatives.

The committee is conducting public participation and receiving views from members of the public and other stakeholders.

The submissions are expected to help the committee assess the proposed amendments before presenting its recommendations to the National Assembly.

What happens after public participation?

After the public participation process is concluded, the committee will prepare a report containing its findings and recommendations.

Parliament said the views submitted by members of the public and stakeholders could inform further amendments to the Bill.

The proposed legislation will then proceed to the National Assembly for consideration by MPs.

This means the Bill has not yet completed the legislative process and could still be amended based on the submissions received during public participation.

Bill will be forwarded to Senate

The National Assembly also clarified that the Bill will not proceed directly for presidential assent after being passed by MPs.

Because the proposed legislation concerns county governments, it will be forwarded to the Senate for consideration in accordance with the Constitution.

The Senate will be required to consider the Bill before it can complete the parliamentary process and be presented for presidential assent.

Parliament urged members of the public to rely on verified information about the Sacco Societies Amendment Bill instead of unconfirmed reports circulating online-PeopleDaily.Digital.

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Digital house-hunting platform bets on technology to reshape Nairobi’s rental market

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NAIROBI, Kenya, July 14 – A growing shift towards digital property searches is changing how Kenyans find rental homes, with real estate technology platform Reemio positioning itself as a solution to longstanding challenges.

This included fraudulent listings, costly house searches and limited market transparency.

As younger, tech-savvy consumers turn to online platforms to make purchasing decisions, the company says digitizing the rental process could improve efficiency for both tenants and landlords while lowering transaction costs.

“Our niche is to solve the problem of house hunting and also bring trust into that process. We use technology to connect renters and landlords,” said Kimani.

Kimani said the platform seeks to address inefficiencies that have traditionally made house hunting expensive and time-consuming.

Instead of physically visiting multiple properties, users can browse verified listings, take virtual tours, compare amenities and access information on additional costs such as water charges, electricity bills and service fees before scheduling physical viewings.

Beyond improving convenience for tenants, Reemio argues that technology can help landlords reduce marketing costs, shorten vacancy periods and reach a wider pool of prospective tenants, including Kenyans living abroad.

The company says its platform also generates market data that can help property owners and developers better understand evolving consumer preferences, although its long-term impact will depend on wider adoption of digital property platforms and continued investment in trustworthy online real estate marketplaces-Capitalfm.co.ke.

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ORPP edges two parties closer to joining Kenya’s political arena

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The Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) has issued a notice for the provisional registration of two proposed political parties, opening a seven-day window for members of the public to lodge objections.

In a notice published by the Registrar of Political Parties and Chief Executive Officer J.C. Lorionokou, the ORPP announced that the Social Democratic Party of Kenya (SDP) and the People’s Alternative Voice (PAV) are in the process of being provisionally registered under Section 5(2)(a) of the Political Parties Act.

The ORPP, a State office established under Section 33 of the Political Parties Act and Article 260 of the Constitution, said its mandate includes registering and regulating political parties as well as administering the Political Parties Fund.

According to the notice, the Social Democratic Party of Kenya (SDP) has adopted pink, white and sky blue as its official party colours, with the slogan “Change – Mageuzi.” The party’s symbol is the acronym SDP enclosed inside a circle.

The party’s listed founder members are Nyangong’ Duncan Nyumbah, Omwandasi Jared Dishon and Kinyua Mary Wacuka.

The founders of PAV are listed as Odenyo John Fitzgerald Elly, Nyando Rachel Mmboga and Ali Hussein Kiplangat.

The Registrar said particulars of the two proposed political parties have been published on the ORPP website to facilitate public scrutiny as required by law.

Any person wishing to oppose the provisional registration of either party has seven days from the date of publication of the notice to submit objections either in writing or in person to the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties at Lion Place, Fourth Floor, Waiyaki Way at Karuna Close, Nairobi.

The provisional registration marks the first step in the legal process of establishing a political party in Kenya.

Kenya has 91 fully registered political parties. The ORPP’s updated register indicates that, as of January 2026, there were 91 parties that had met the legal requirements for full registration under the Political Parties Act-STAR.

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