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Matiang’I: I will not do business with govt, not even my children

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Jubilee Deputy party leader Fred Matiang’i has declared he will never engage in business with the government, positioning himself as a reform-minded leader amid growing scrutiny of President William Ruto’s administration over corruption and governance concerns.

Speaking during a local radio interview on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, Matiang’i struck a firm tone on integrity, arguing that Kenya’s corruption crisis is not due to weak laws but a failure of leadership.

His remarks come at a time when the government faces mounting pressure over reported graft and wastage linked to Public-Private Partnership (PPP) deals and flagship programmes such as affordable housing, the Social Health Authority (SHA) and E-Citizen.

“In matters of corruption, we do not need new laws; we have enough. We also do not need new commissions because we have enough. What we need is honest, forthright and courageous leadership to deal with this problem,” Matiang’i said.

“You cannot fight corruption if you are the problem, because you cannot tell people to stop doing what you do every day.”

But, for instance, the government has dismissed claims of a Ksh11 billion loss through the digital system running the Social Health Authority (SHA).

Speaking on Friday, February 27, 2026, during the Assessment and Planning Retreat with Senators in Naivasha, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale clarified that the funds in question were rejected claims.

“Speakers and senators, we must confront the narrative of the alleged loss of Ksh11 billion, and today I want to set the record straight. I want to categorically state that there is no loss of the Ksh11 billion in SHA,” Duale said.

Duale clarified that the amount, which now stands at Ksh12.7 billion, represents claims that were flagged, rejected, or left unpaid by SHA’s enhanced digital verification system.

“This figure currently stands at Ksh12.7 billion as of today, representing the claims that were flagged, that we rejected, and the claims that were unpaid by our digital superhighway gatekeeper,” he added.

Matiang’i framed his stance against doing business with the state as a moral imperative, arguing that leaders must avoid conflicts of interest to maintain credibility.

“I have no interest in money, and I am not looking for money. I have to lead by example. I do not want to do business with the government,” he said.

“I promise Kenyans that if they give me the mandate, I will not do business with the government, not even my children will, because it denies you the moral authority to manage the government.”

How to fix Kenya

His comments come as Parliament recently adopted amendments to the Conflict of Interest Bill, following reservations by President Ruto.

The revised law seeks to tighten disclosure requirements, broaden the definition of conflicts of interest, and empower the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to pursue forfeiture of unexplained wealth.

The legislation introduces stricter reporting rules, including mandatory disclosure of gifts received by relatives of public officers within 48 hours, and defines undeclared assets more robustly. It also expands what constitutes a conflict of interest to include situations where private interests could reasonably impair a public officer’s judgment.

However, the Bill has drawn criticism after lawmakers watered down some provisions, a move that has been reported to have delayed the disbursement of critical budget support financing from the World Bank. Governance reforms tied to the funding were intended to enhance transparency and accountability.

Matiang’i argued that without firm enforcement and political will, even the strongest laws would remain ineffective, pointing to entrenched corruption in key sectors, singling out the sugar industry as a long-standing example of systemic failure.

“There is an inconvenient truth that is usually not spoken about over the years: the sugar industry in Kenya has provided a safe haven for cartelism and corruption. When people have access to power, it becomes an easy option to get involved,” he said.

He questioned why private sugar firms continue to thrive while state-owned mills struggle, citing the case of Mumias and broader PPP arrangements.

“Kenya needs a leader who will look at those fellows and tell them you cannot do this, goodbye, so that local people and farmers get the opportunities they need.”

The former Interior Cabinet Secretary also weighed in on recent audit concerns raised by Auditor General Nancy Gathungu regarding Ksh206 billion processed through the government’s eCitizen platform.

The audit flagged unsupported balances, missing documentation and system gaps in the portal, which serves as the primary gateway for public services.

“Some things like the eCitizen make one think that we need to close this country because nothing is happening positively,” Matiang’i remarked.

Concerns extend to liabilities, where Ksh618 million and an additional Ksh3 billion in payables could not be verified due to unexplained variances.

The report also flags a mismatch of Ksh299 million in convenience fees linked to the immigration department, raising questions about revenue reconciliation.

“Ksh402 million was paid for support and maintenance services before contract formalisation, casting doubt on procurement processes,” the report reads-Kenyans.co.ke.

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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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