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Ruto: Construction of new airport to replace JKIA to start in June

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The construction of a new airport to replace the aged Jomo Kenyatta International Airport will start within the next two months, President William Ruto has announced.

The President said the government has raised enough funds for the National Infrastructure Fund and from the private sector to undertake the critical project.

“We will allocate some money from the National Infrastructure Fund and start construction of the airport in June, with the help of the private sector, at a cost of Ksh180 billion,” he said.

He made the remarks when he hosted 5,000 grassroots leaders from Kirinyaga County at State House, Nairobi, on Wednesday.

Present were Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, Governor Ann Waiguru, MPs Gitari Gachoki (Kirinyaga Central), Mary Maingi (Ndia), George Kariuki (Ndia), and MCAs, among other leaders.

President Ruto pointed out that the government has already identified 12 dams and is completing surveying 28,000km of roads that will be built from proceeds from the Fund and the private sector.

“That is how to transform a country: With a vision and a plan,” he said. He explained to the delegation that Kenya’s economy has recovered and stabilised as shown by key economic indicators, including inflation, increased forex reserves, and a stable shilling against major currencies.

“I can confidently tell you that there’s a world of difference in the state of our economy from where we found it in 2022,” he said.

Consequently, he noted, Kenya’s economy has significantly improved and has been ranked as the sixth largest in Africa, up from the eight in 2022, by the International Monetary Fund.

The President added that reforms in the agricultural sector have yielded better returns for farmers.

“Our annual tea earnings used to average Ksh140 billion. But in 2025, they topped Ksh215 billion,” he said.

He directed the Kenya National Trading Corporation Ltd to mop up rice still in farmers’ stores in the county, and ensure that they are promptly paid.

The President assured the leaders that the government can only increase, not reduce, the price at which it has been buying rice from farmers contrary to false assertions from political detractors.

Additionally, the President said he will distribute 13 milk coolers to cooperatives in the county during his upcoming tour of development projects in the region.

On healthcare, the President said the government has paid Ksh2.8 billion to hospitals in Kirinyaga County over the past one year under the Social Health Authority (SHA), improving service delivery to citizens.

“This is just the beginning. We are still refining SHA to serve Kenyans even better,” he said.

President Ruto commended Kirinyaga residents for registering high numbers in SHA, noting that 475,000 residents have enrolled under the scheme, making it the fourth highest in the country in registration.

The President further said county hospitals in Kirinyaga have so far received equipment worth Ksh330 million under the National Equipment Service Project.

He announced that he will soon launch the construction of a Kenya Medical Research Institute centre in Mwea Constituency, as well as a Level 4 hospital at a cost of Ksh200 million.

President Ruto said the government is investing Ksh15 billion to build 4,000 housing units, 4,000 students hostels, and 12 modern markets.

Moreover, he said, the government is spending KSh6 billion to upgrade the road network in Kirinyaga County, and assured the leaders that all projects would be completed on time.

He told the leaders that his relationship with the people of Central Kenya region is a long and enduring one, which cannot be shaken by self-serving opponents-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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