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Sifuna slams Ruto, Sakaja deal, says his office was sidestepped

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“I urge both parties to shelve this agreement in the public interest and maintain fidelity to the Constitution,” he said.

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has called for the cooperation agreement signed on February 17 between President William Ruto and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja to be shelved, saying his office was not consulted before the deal was finalised.

Speaking to journalists on February 18, Sifuna argued the agreement undermines constitutional principles and the role of the Senate in protecting devolved units.

“My office was neither involved nor consulted before this decision was taken. Indeed, the so-called Cooperation Agreement itself acknowledges that no public participation was conducted prior to the signing yesterday, a violation of the Constitution too egregious to ignore,” Sifuna said.

The agreement, which sets up a two-tier governance framework comprising a Steering Committee and an Implementation Committee, is aimed at coordinating development projects in the capital.

Sifuna described the committees as heavily dominated by national government appointees. “From its structure, the Governor will play subservient to the Prime Cabinet Secretary, making Sakaja the new Deputy Governor for all intents and purposes. This, to me, is not cooperation but takeover,” he said.

Sifuna claimed the agreement was rushed, noting that it is set to take effect within 14 days, while public participation is scheduled only after the signing.

“It is not only disrespectful to the people of Nairobi but the clearest indication that it is anything but what we are being told it is. One wonders whether any meaningful public participation can be had in such a short period,” he said.

The Senator highlighted what he described as the continuing culture of unpaid bills and weak accountability in Nairobi. He claimed that the National Government still owes the city more than Sh100 billion in unpaid rates and other obligations.

Sifuna also reminded Governor Sakaja of his own statements last week in the County Assembly, where he criticised the Nairobi Metropolitan Services model that left the county with a Sh16 billion hole in pending bills.

“He should have used the opportunity yesterday to remind the President that thousands of contractors and workers are still owed money,” Sifuna said.

According to the Senator, the agreement replicates the NMS model, which he said threatens oversight and accountability by the County Assembly, the Senate, and the Office of the Auditor-General. He said that development in Nairobi could be achieved without compromising constitutional safeguards.

Sifuna outlined what he said should have been done instead. These included clearing outstanding obligations of over Sh100 billion owed by national government agencies, transferring county functions in accordance with previous agreements, dissolving KURA and KeRRA, and using existing legal instruments like conditional grants to fund development projects.

“So you see Mr President, it is possible to remain faithful to your oath of Office. We want development, but only if undertaken in strict accordance with the Constitution. This in fact is the very foundation of leadership. I urge both parties to shelve this agreement in the public interest and maintain fidelity to the Constitution,” he said.

The cooperation agreement is intended to streamline collaboration between the national and county governments for projects such as roads, markets, drainage, and garbage collection.

It is chaired by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, with Governor Sakaja as vice-chair, and includes national government officials from various ministries alongside two representatives nominated by the Nairobi Governor.

Sifuna’s call raises questions about the consultation process and the balance of power in the new framework. His office has urged both the national and county governments to reconsider the agreement to safeguard devolved governance and public interest-STAR.

 

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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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