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‘Nairobi is not a private place’ – Sifuna lashes out at Sakaja as governor defends county’s deal with national govt

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Senators have intensified scrutiny of the cooperation agreement recently signed between the national government and Johnson Sakaja, raising serious constitutional questions about whether it respects the devolution framework in the 2010 Constitution.

The Nairobi Governor was appearing in the Senate devolution and intergovernmental relations committee on Thursday, February 26, 2026, regarding the management of key services of Nairobi County after the Ksh80 billion corporation agreement with the national government.

In his submissions, Governor Sakaja said that the focus of the deal with the national government remains on improving services, strengthening governance, and ensuring that Nairobi continues to function effectively for all residents.

“I have appeared before this committee in good faith and with full respect for the oversight role that you exercise over county governments.

“My administration remains committed to transparency, accountability, and service delivery to the people of Nairobi. Every decision that we have made has been guided by the law and by the best interests of Nairobi residents. We are prepared to provide any clarification that this committee requires, and we remain committed to working within the framework of the Constitution,” Sakaja said.

Sifuna’s query

While the governor insisted that the deal was guided by the law, his sentiments were quickly refuted by the Nairobi senator, who informed the governor that it was the mandate of the committee to see accountability and misuse of public resources and that any issues that the citizens raised are valid and need a clear response by the people in power.

“Governor, this committee exercises oversight over county governments and their operations. When questions arise regarding the conduct of your administration, it is only proper that you appear before us to provide clarity,” Sakaja remarked.

According to Sifuna, leadership is a responsibility, and he accentuates the constitutional obligation of oversight organs to question and interrogate government officials. He further claimed that transparency was not a choice but rather a mandate, especially when it comes to trust and service delivery by the government to the people.

“You need to know that Nairobi is not a private place. Nairobi belongs to the people of Kenya, and the leadership entrusted to you is a public trust.

“When residents raise concerns about governance, about service delivery, or about the use of public resources, those concerns must be addressed transparently and comprehensively. This committee is not acting outside its mandate. We are acting within the Constitution to ensure that accountability is upheld,” Sifuna added.

Sifuna told the governor that he had the obligation to respond to the issues raised and to assure this committee and the people of Nairobi that your administration is operating within the law.

Committee’s resolution

The Senate committee on devolution and intergovernmental relations ended the heated debate and questions of accountability by telling the governor to follow the law before the deal with the Nairobi County government is fully carried out. The committee also told the governor to make sure that the public participation planned to get people’s opinions is done in a legal way-PeopleDaily.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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