23/10/2025
| |
23, October 2025 ๐ฐ
The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) successfully conducted a recruitment exercise in Gilgil, Nakuru County, as part of its nationwide drive to enlist qualified, disciplined, and physically fit young Kenyans into the Service. The event, held at Gilgil Stadium, was streamed live on KDF platforms to promote transparency and educate the public on the recruitment process.
See more: shorturl.at/4iq33
Troops from the Kenyan Quick Reaction Force (KENQRF), serving under the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO), recently conducted a long-range patrol across Mbau, Mandumbi, and Mangina areas within North Kivu Province. The operation aimed at reassuring local communities of their safety amid ongoing security stabilization efforts.
See more: shorturl.at/1jxlG
๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐ก๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฒ ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐จ๐๐๐ซ, ๐๐๐๐
The National Assembly Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC) has held a consultative meeting with key stakeholders to receive submissions on the Kenya Judiciary Academy Bill, 2025.
The proposed legislation seeks to establish a specialized institution dedicated to the training and continuous professional development of judicial officers and staff. Once enacted, the Kenya Judiciary Academy is expected to play a central role in enhancing the competence, integrity, and efficiency of the Judiciary by offering structured learning and capacity-building programs.
During the session chaired by Hon. George Murugara, the Committee heard presentations from the Office of the Attorney General, the Centre for Parliamentary Studies and Training (CPST), and representatives from the Kenya Judiciary Academy. Stakeholders provided insights on the proposed structure, governance model, and funding framework of the Academy, with discussions centering on how to ensure the institutionโs independence and long-term sustainability.
In a separate engagement, the Committee met with officials from the County Assemblies Forum (CAF), who are pushing for the enactment of legislation to anchor a Ward Development Fund. CAF representatives emphasized that the Fund would promote equitable resource allocation and empower wards to directly implement development priorities identified by local communities.
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐: ๐๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐
๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐ฎ๐ง๐ ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฐ๐๐ซ
๐๐ก๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฒ ๐๐๐ญ๐จ๐๐๐ซ ๐๐, ๐๐๐๐
Members of the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning are urging the public to actively participate in the lawmaking process to ensure their views are considered during the processing of legislation.
Speaking during an engagement with stakeholders on the Capital Markets (Amendment) Bill, 2025 and the Government Owned Enterprises Bill, 2025, the lawmakers expressed concern that the public is often misled by falsehoods about enacted Bills because they fail to engage when opportunities for public participation arise.
"We want to congratulate you for honouring our invitation to share your perspectives on these two Bills. We want to encourage especially young people to participate in law making rather than be reactive when laws have been enacted yet they had a chance to state their standpoints,โ stated Hon. Julius Rutto.
Session Chair Hon. David Mboni supported this sentiment, highlighting that public participation introduces fresh perspectives to proposed legislation.
โWe require new perspectives when processing Bills. A single provision in a proposed law can have far reaching consequences, and thatโs why the law requires that we seek the views of the public before we enact a law,โ he noted.
Hon. (Dr.) John Ariko called upon stakeholders who appear before Committees to use various forums to educate the public as much as possible on what proposed laws seek to change. This, he argued, would help counter falsehoods being spread about enacted laws.
โWe have in the past seen issues being taken out of context when there are proposals to amend certain Bills. We therefore call upon you as stakeholders to go public on the provisions of various proposed legislations so as to avert the spread of misinformation,โ he urged.
๐๐ญ๐๐ค๐๐ก๐จ๐ฅ๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐ฏ๐ข๐๐ฐ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ญ๐ฐ๐จ ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฌ
Regarding the two Bills, Margaret Mutinda, representing the Tax and Business Advisory firm Ichiban, told the Committee that the firm is opposed to the Government Owned Enterprises (GOE) Bill, 2025. Their concern centered on the potential for duplication of functions and management systems should the Bill be enacted.
โWe request that the Committee does not recommend the GOE Bill in its entirety. We propose the fortifying of the existing State Corporations systems or the repeal of the State Corporations Act and the fortification of the proposed GOE Bill for the overall management of state enterprises cost effectively,โ she argued.
She posited that enacting the Bill would lead to heavy cost implications from running two identical regulatory systems overseeing state entities;
the proposed GOE management for commercial enterprises and the State Corporations Act for other state enterprises.
โThe provision under Part 3 of the Bill would bring about a duplication of roles and costs without any administrative reforms,โ she observed.
Ms. Mutinda also expressed the firm's view that the implementation of the GOE Bill, even if enacted, would be at risk due to a history of weak monitoring and suboptimal procurement and management in state enterprises.
In her submission, she maintained that the Bill fails to propose any parameters beyond those in the State Corporations Act to ensure proper management of GOEs, despite the commercial value of some state entities requiring stringent measures against mismanagement.
In response, however, Hon. Mboni explained that the GOE Bill was proposed to reform State Corporations created for commercial purposes to ensure they make profits, thus relieving them of the need for exchequer support.
โThis Bill is intended to ensure that the over 60 state corporations created for commercial purposes make profit and do not rely on government support. The Bill will also ensure that these entities are kept off from political interference,โ he noted.
WeCare, a community-led Solutions organization from Kisumu West Constituency also submitted its views on the Government-Owned Enterprises Bill, 2025. Their suggested amendments focused primarily on enhancing citizen participation, transparency, accountability, and inclusivity in GOE governance.
They urged the Committee to mandate the inclusion of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), women, youth, and civil society representatives on the Board of Directors.
This, they argued, would ensure fair, inclusive, and diverse representation, mitigating the potential for state capture and promoting equity and participatory governance.
Furthermore, they urged the amendment of Clause 18(j) to require the Board to publicly publish strategic plans, performance contracts, and annual/quarterly reports of the GOEs.
โHon. Chair this aligns with the principles of openness under Article 35, enhancing public trust and promoting informed public oversight,โ noted Nelly Chepkemoi, who represented the organization.
To enhance accountability and active citizen involvement, as envisioned in Article 10 of the Constitution, the organization urged the Committee to amend Clause 36 on Dissolution and Merger to require that public participation be conducted before dissolving or merging any GOE.
The Committee is now set to collate all submissions on the two Bills before preparing a final report for consideration by the House.
The State has announced that the Ethnic Minorities and Marginalized Community Bill 2025 and the Draft Policy on Minorities will establish a legal framework guaranteeing the protection of rights of minority and marginalized groups, as enshrined in the Constitution of Kenya.
Director of Governance within the Minorities and Marginalized Affairs Unit (MMAU) in the Office of the President, Mr. Abdi Kahiya, said although Article 56 of the Constitution recognises these groups, there is currently no guiding legislation or policy to implement these constitutional provisions.
โDespite efforts by various lobbies and advocacy groups at national and county levels, the absence of a structured framework remains a major setback for fair treatment and inclusion,โ said Mr. Kahiya.
Speaking during a public participation exercise at the Narok County Commissionerโs office, where institutions and organisations submitted comments on the two documents, Kahiya emphasized the Kenya Kwanza administrationโs commitment to advancing the rights and welfare of special interest groups.
He said strengthening legal and policy structures is crucial to ensuring equity, inclusion, and social justice for all Kenyans.
Mr. Kahiya expressed confidence that the public participation forums would generate actionable recommendations to guide legislative reforms and policy interventions aimed at safeguarding marginalized communitiesโ rights nationwide.
The Office of the Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service, through MMAU and a Technical Working Committee, developed the Draft Policy and Bill on ethnic minorities. Mr. Kahiya said these documents seek to shift Kenyaโs development trajectory from historical exclusion to equitable inclusion, recognizing that sustainable growth and national cohesion depend on the full participation of all communities.
He noted that, although Kenya has made progress in some areas, serious challenges persist, especially in land ownership and resource distribution, issues the new Bill and Policy aim to address if approved.
โIt is our sincere hope that the new policy and legal framework for full implementation of Article 56 of our Constitution will be ready by December. This will change how public entities handle minority and marginalized community issues,โ said the Director.
Head of the Minorities and Marginalized Affairs Unit in the Office of the President, Mr. Josephat Lowoi Lodoyi, said a clear legal and policy framework is needed to implement constitutional provisions for these groups.
He admitted that, although Articles 56 and 260 of the Constitution recognize minorities and marginalized groups, progress has stalled due to the absence of guiding policy.
Mr. Lodoyi praised President William Rutoโs administration for preparing the first-ever draft policy and legislation to address longstanding challenges facing these communities, pledging completion by the end of the year.
โWe are determined to have a policy and law governing minority and marginalized community issues before the end of this year. This will enable every State department to understand how to handle their concerns, and both national and county governments will be better able to engage and plan for these communities,โ he said.
He affirmed that the new framework will provide a structured approach to tackling challenges related to access to resources, representation, and socio-economic inclusion.
Mr. Lodoyi also reiterated the governmentโs commitment to cultural inclusion, explaining that the proposed statute will preserve and promote the cultural values, languages, and practices of these communities.
The Bill and Policy will also ensure reasonable access to essential services such as water, healthcare, and infrastructure, while addressing historical issues like land dispossession and inequalities that have contributed to marginalization.
Once approved, the documents will provide county governments with a clear pathway for engaging marginalized groups.
Narok County Commissioner, Mr. Kipkech Lotiatia, said the two documents will foster synergy between county and national governments in achieving inclusivity goals.
He explained that the new structures will ensure minorities and marginalized communities have unhindered access to essential services such as education, healthcare, water, and infrastructure.
โThis will break down barriers, empower individuals, and create a more representative and cohesive society,โ he said.
Reverend Fred Lemama, spokesman for the Ogiek Community in Narok County, said the group has long struggled for fair treatment and inclusion in governance, a challenge they continue to face.
He expressed confidence that the approval of the Bill and Policy will compel both levels of government to make deliberate efforts toward inclusivity.
๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐จ ๐ฆ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ข๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ฌ๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฌ ๐ก๐จ๐ฉ๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ฉ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐จ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง
Members from minority and marginalised communities in Baringo County have expressed optimism that existing historical land injustices of over six decades will be sorted out soon.
This is after the national government through the executive office of the president embarked on an exercise to address some of their plights.
Speaking during a public participation forum on the National draft policy on ethnic minorities and marginalised communities at Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI), Marigat, the representatives from Talai, Torobeek, Illchamus, Endorois and Nubian communities said that it was the perfect opportunity for them to get assistance in an issue they have been seeking redress for decades in vain.
The national secretary of Torobeek community association of Kenya Dr Benjamin Kipkulei thanked the government of President William Ruto for seeing it wise to have a comprehensive policy and laws which are aimed at ensuring inclusivity and responsiveness to the needs and aspirations of the ethnic minorities and marginalised communities.
Kipkulei noted that the initiative is a big boost especially to his community who were forcefully evicted and displaced in the colonial period from their original home in Tugen hills forest in Baringo County.
He stated that subsequent migration and evictions scattered them to a point they have been assimilated with other minority groups and a few who are remaining are ashamed to come out to be recognised.
โWith this policy and laws, we will be recognised and identified like other communities in Kenya,โ he said.
His sentiments were echoed by Stephen Chelelgo from the Endorois community who were forcefully evicted from their ancestral lands around Lake Bogoria by the Kenyan government between 1973 and 1986 to pave the way for the establishment of a game reserve and national park for conservation and tourism.
Chelelgo said they have unsuccessfully launched a petition in various organisations and government agencies but are now hopeful that with the creation of a unit to address the historical grievances as well as collections of their views, they are sure that their problem will end soon.
The elder called for future public participation to be scaled down to sub-location level so as to capture the true picture on the ground and to discourage few individuals who he believes have illegally acquired themselves title deeds from community lands.
Former Baringo East Member of Parliament (MP) Joseph Lotodo representing marginalised Pokot community in Tiaty constituency urged both levels of governments and other stakeholders to prioritise the area in terms of development and infrastructure in order to improve the living standards of the people which will automatically end perennial cattle rustling and banditry.
Lotodo attributed the minimal resources channeled to the region to the fact that the community was being recognised as part of the wider Kalenjin community but recommended their own code in order to understand their needs and for planning interventions and policies.
The former legislator who retired from politics to venture into peacebuilding in the North Rift region also recommended for a ministerial department to be formed which will deal solely on issues of minority groups and marginalised communities arguing that the formation of a unit in government may not be sustainable.
Commissioner at the National gender and equality commission (NGEC) Caroline Lentupuru who led the exercise assured residents that all their views will be captured in the draft policy which will find its way to the cabinet before becoming a law.
She encouraged all those who missed the public participation exercise to write a memorandum and submit it to the minorities and marginalised affairs unit (MMAU) by October 27 of this year.
Lentupuru promised that her organisation will come back to the grassroots to monitor the implementation of the policy once it is ratified.
For reliable news coverage, updates, and entertainment, stay tuned to FocusNewsAfrica | https://www.focusnewsafrica.com/
