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Court orders State to disclose agreements on proposed Ebola quarantine facility

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The High Court has ordered the government to disclose all agreements, negotiations, approvals, risk assessments and operational protocols relating to a Kenya–US-proposed Ebola quarantine facility in the country.

Justice Patricia Mande issued the directions on Tuesday amid a legal challenge in which Katiba Institute claims raise constitutional, public health and sovereignty concerns.

The court directed the respondents (AG and Ministry of Health) to furnish a report within seven days detailing the status of the project and the arrangements surrounding the proposed facility.

Petitioners will thereafter be allowed to respond to the report before the matter is mentioned again for compliance.

The judge also allowed the consolidation of a petition filed by the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) with an earlier petition filed by Katiba Institute, with the latter designated as the lead file.

During the proceedings, lawyers representing Katiba Institute faulted the Attorney General’s office for failing to attend court despite earlier directions and not filing responses to the applications before the court.

Lawyer Malidzo Nyawa told the court that the Attorney General had a constitutional obligation to participate in the proceedings and urged the court not to tolerate the continued absence of state representatives.

Nyawa argued that the respondents had not responded to the applications as directed and urged the court to grant the orders sought.

She further raised concerns about compliance with conservatory orders previously issued by the court suspending the construction of the facility pending determination of the case.

According to Nyawa, there were reports indicating that construction activities had continued despite the court’s orders.

He claimed attempts by petitioners to access the military barracks where the facility is allegedly being established had been unsuccessful.

“We have seen reports that construction that was stopped is ongoing, and when we tried to access the barracks to confirm, we were not allowed. We cannot know whether your orders are being complied with or not,” he told the court.

LSK President Charles Kanjama supported the consolidation of the petitions and indicated that the society was willing to rely on the conservatory orders already issued in the lead matter to avoid delaying the substantive hearing of the dispute.

Lawyer Thande Kuria, appearing for the respondents in the LSK matter, did not oppose the consolidation of the cases.

The court’s earlier conservatory orders had halted any further construction or operationalisation of the proposed quarantine facility pending the hearing and determination of the application.

The petitioners contend that the project raises significant questions touching on public health management, public participation, constitutional governance and the extent of agreements entered into by the government regarding the facility.

The orders came after the court admitted several applicants as interested parties in the proceedings, following separate applications seeking leave to participate in the case.

They include the Laikipia County Government, Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KHCHR), among others. The case will be mentioned on June 23, 2026, to confirm compliance with court directions-STAR.

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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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