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Masinde Muliro University to Introduce First Law Degree Programme in Western Kenya: “We’re Ready”

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Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology has unveiled plans to introduce a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) programme.

The Kakamega-based university has already begun validating the proposed law curriculum with stakeholders Once approved, the programme will make MMUST the first university in Western Kenya to offer a law degree.

University officials say the initiative, whose planning began in 2022, aims to produce market-ready legal professionals.

Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology(MMUST) is set to make history in Western Kenya. This is after announcing plans to introduce a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) programme, a move that could improve access to legal studies in the region.

The institution revealed that it had already begun key steps toward launching the programme, including engaging legal stakeholders to validate the proposed curriculum.

Once approved, the course will make the university the first in the Western region to offer a law degree.

What steps has MMUST taken to launch law degree?

The undertaking follows a consultative workshop held on Friday, March 6, at the Golf Hotel in Kakamega, where legal professionals and academic experts gathered to review and refine the proposed curriculum for the programme.

It brought together representatives from several key institutions in the legal sector, including the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Law Society of Kenya, the Judiciary of Kenya, the Kenya School of Law, Kisii University, the Office of the Attorney General and faculty members from MMUST.

University officials said the engagement was an important step in shaping a curriculum that reflects both professional expectations and emerging developments in the legal field.

During the workshop, MMUST’s Director of Curriculum Review and Development, Dr Teresa Okoth, said the validation process allows them to examine their proposed course content against current legal frameworks and emerging trends.

She noted that collaboration with industry stakeholders plays a central role in ensuring the programme produces graduates with adequate skills required in legal practice. “This Workshop is a demonstration of our collective commitment to strengthening the curriculum in legal education. It affirms that curriculum development is not an isolated exercise, but a collaborative process. We recognise your role in helping us identify gaps between the curriculum and professional practice,” Okoth stated.

How will MMUST support approval of new programme?

The workshop also highlighted the institutional support behind the new programme, with university administrators expressing optimism.

They explained their belief that the initiative will broaden academic opportunities for numerous students in the region.

Representing the Registrar (Academic Affairs), Prof. Judah Ndiku, Jairus Owunza said the office was fully committed to supporting the programme through the remaining approval stages.

“On behalf of the Office of the Registrar, Academic Affairs, I would like to appreciate the initiators of this project, drafters, stakeholders and the entire curriculum design team for bringing this programme to fruition. Our office is committed to ensuring that MMUST offers both market-driven courses and those that are relevant and appropriate for the growth of the University. The Bachelor of Laws Degree is certainly a step towards the right direction,” said Owunza.

He added that the Registrar’s office would support the approval process, including facilitating the programme’s registration with the Commission for University Education.

For MMUST, the planned introduction of the law programme represents the culmination of years of planning and consultations.

According to the Chairperson of the Department of Criminology and Social Work, Dr Evans Oruta, the process of establishing the law degree began in 2022 after the university identified a significant gap in legal education across Western Kenya.

“There are very many legal scholars in Western, yet none of the Universities in the region is offering the Bachelor of Laws Degree. As a University, we are more than ready to bridge this gap by providing a Law programme that meets the needs of this region,” stated Oruta.

Beyond filling a regional gap, the proposed programme is expected to introduce a distinctive academic focus that reflects the evolving intersection between law and technology-TUKO.

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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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