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MPs approve 2026/27 budget, prioritizing health, education sectors

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The National Assembly has approved the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure and the Medium Term for the Financial Year 2026/2027, unveiling a people-centred budget aimed at strengthening social protection, expanding essential services, and advancing fiscal discipline.

Moving the motion, the Chairperson of the Budget and Appropriations Committee, Samuel Atandi, outlined a framework anchored on public participation and targeted investments in health, education, housing, agriculture, and environmental resilience.

“This budget is structured to strengthen Universal Health Coverage, improve primary healthcare services, and expand specialized healthcare infrastructure,” Atandi said, highlighting a health sector allocation of Ksh 175.5 billion.

To advance Universal Health Coverage (UHC), lawmakers approved Ksh 19.1 billion for the Primary Healthcare Fund to strengthen community health networks and local dispensaries. The Emergency, Chronic, and Critical Illness Fund will receive Ksh 4 billion to ensure that specialized treatment for severe illnesses does not push Kenyan families into financial distress.

The Global Fund Programme has also been allocated Ksh 18.5 billion to sustain interventions against HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis. Education remained the largest beneficiary, with Ksh 781.4 billion directed toward basic, tertiary, and university education programmes.

Seconding the motion, MP Robert Pukose praised the budget’s grassroots focus, particularly the introduction of stipends for village elders.

“For the first time, the Committee has approved Ksh 3.5 billion for stipends for village elders. We are hoping that the NGAO will now be able to pay Ksh 3,000 monthly to these important community leaders,” Pukose said.

The housing sector also received a major boost, with Ksh 138.2 billion allocated, including Ksh 50 billion for the Affordable Housing Programme to accelerate housing delivery and create employment opportunities for youth across the construction value chain.

“This allocation will support the Affordable Housing Programme as well as urban infrastructure and informal settlement upgrading,” Hon. Atandi noted.

Energy development was similarly strengthened, with Ksh 16.3 billion allocated for rural electrification and Ksh 7.5 billion for national grid expansion to improve access to reliable power across the country.

The digital economy also received targeted funding for ICT hubs, completion of the Konza Data Centre, and cybersecurity systems to support ongoing government digitisation efforts.

To protect vulnerable groups, Members of Parliament approved Ksh 25 billion for elderly cash transfers, Ksh 8.9 billion for orphans and vulnerable children, and additional allocations for disability support and the Hunger Safety Net Programme.

Youth-focused initiatives were also strengthened, including Ksh 12.5 billion for the National Youth Service (NYS) and additional funding for employment and enterprise development programmes.

“These interventions are intended to enhance youth employability, entrepreneurship, skills development, and access to financing,” the Budget Committee noted in its report.

On fiscal sustainability and debt, Members raised concern over the widening deficit and rising debt servicing obligations.

MP Makali Mulu observed that debt pressures remain a key structural challenge.

“Public debt this year is projected to reach Ksh 1.1 trillion,” he said, calling for stronger fiscal consolidation measures.

Mulu also pointed to pending bills, attributing delays largely to Exchequer release challenges that continue to affect timely service delivery across ministries and agencies.

To improve efficiency and accountability, the National Assembly endorsed the mandatory rollout of the Electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) system, which has already reduced administrative inefficiencies and delivered estimated savings of Ksh 36.9 billion.

The House further called for improved coordination in Exchequer releases to reduce pending bills and ensure predictable implementation of government programmes.

Legislators also backed strict adherence to statutory requirements, ensuring that development and capital expenditures account for over 30 percent of the total budget to safeguard infrastructure-led growth.

Following approval by the House, the Estimates will now form the basis of the Appropriation Bill, which will authorize government expenditure for the new financial year-KBC.

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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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