Unlike his other unsubstantiated self-appropriated successes against his predecessors, President William Ruto rightfully earns the bragging rights for pulling through hosting rights for major continental sporting events into Kenyan soil. The thrilling exploits of the national team, Harambee Stars, at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, is a welcome distraction from the annoying e-citizen and other mega scandals unravelling from the Auditor-General’s reports. /* Container styling */ .fade-out-overlay { position: absolute; top: -80px; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 60px; z-index: 1; background: linear-gradient(to bottom, rgba(255, 255, 255, 0), rgba(255, 255, 255, 1)); } .paywall-container { position: relative; max-width: 100%; margin:…
Author: By Patrick Muinde
EACC Chairperson Dr. David Oginde,making his way after taking Oath of office on 9th May 2023 at Supreme court in Nairobi.[FILE/Standard] Can a single prayer be the master stroke that eventually slays the dragon of plunder of public coffers in this country? This is the question in the minds of many Kenyans today. This is after a stinging prayer by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) Chairman David Oginde at a ceremony at State House to sign the Conflict of Interest Bill, 2023 into law. Given the explosion of this prayer on both mainstream and social media, it implies that…
Like a running stomach, no single individual, business or government can escape the wrath of fiscal indiscipline. Not long ago, this column argued that what we have in this country is not a problem of revenues to warrant the toxic taxes and levies of the Kenya Kwanza administration. There will never be enough revenue collections to satisfy the greed of thieves and wasteful entitlements of any government built on kleptocracy. /* Container styling */ .fade-out-overlay { position: absolute; top: -80px; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 60px; z-index: 1; background: linear-gradient(to bottom, rgba(255, 255, 255, 0), rgba(255, 255, 255, 1)); }…
Reginah Ngumunu, a business lady at Kitengela Kajiado county , counting losses at her Mpesa shop that was broken into by goons during the Saba Saba commemoration on Monday. [Peterson Githaiga/Standard] No one can quantify the economic losses that the country continues to suffer as a result of the violent protests. These include human capital laid to waste by bullets during demonstrations, opportunity costs for closing major urban areas, negative impacts on productivity, direct looting or burning of businesses and public infrastructure. /* Container styling */ .fade-out-overlay { position: absolute; top: -80px; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 60px; z-index: 1; background: linear-gradient(to bottom,…
Ongoing construction of Kenol- Sagana – Marwa highway. The road is 70 per cent complete from Kenol to Sagana while Sagana to Marua is 63 per cent at Makuyu in Muranga county, May 31, 2022. [Mose Sammy, Standard] Economic speak, the key highlight of this week was President William Ruto’s tour in Europe. According to the official itinerary shared from his official communication, the key events for his foreign trip were a speech at the International Conference on Financing Development in Seville, Spain, and the signing of a new strategic partnership with the United Kingdom in London. A summary of…
National Treasury CS John Mbadi(2nd left) with his PS Chris Kiptoo(left), National Assembly Budget and Appropriations Committee Chairman Samuel Atandi(2nd right) and CBK Governor Kamau Thugge(right) addressing the media during the Budget Policy Highlights and Revenue Raising Measures for the FY 2025-26 Budget at Parliament onn June 12, 2025. [Boniface Okendo, Standard] The annual budget process is an official ritual that Kenyans cannot avoid courtesy of the country’s established constitutional and democratic order. Over the years, the budget making process has become a mixed bag depending on which side of the feeding trough one stands on. What is certain however,…
A huge traffic jam along Naivasha town on 3rd January 2021. [File, Standard] This week closes on a sad note with news that Treasury paid Sh6.2 billion of taxpayer money without parliamentary approval for the cancelled Rironi-Mau road project. This joins the ranks of many other bad deals committed by senior public officers that not only exposes our sovereign interests at great risk, but also drains public coffers with zero value for money. Not long ago, the Greenfields terminal project, then targeted to build a second runway and expand the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) was abruptly cancelled over commercial…
Clinical officers with placards written their pleas to the government at greenpark terminal during the Kenya union of clinical officers peaceful demonstrations to afya house ,SHA, parliamentary buildings on delayed posting of interns, absorption and payment of gratuity for UHC staff and deliberate discrimination and exclusion of clinical officers from Sha on 5th March 2025. [David Gichuru,Standard] One of the sad realities emerging from the 2025/26 budget proceedings in Parliament is that our budgets are prepared first and foremost to serve the big people in the Executive and Parliament. Public good and services are purely subsidiary priorities at national and…
President William Ruto, chairs a Cabinet Meeting at State House, Nairobi on 29/4/2025. [PCS] The 2025/26 budget-making process entered into a critical stage this week. Under the Public Finance Management laws, the executive must submit to the National Assembly Budget Estimates and the Finance Bill by April 30. A dispatch from the Cabinet this week confirms that the top executive organ of the State formally adopted the two documents, thus clearing the way for the legislature to consider and approve them with or without amendments. About this time last year, this column, through an open letter to Parliament, warned MPs…
President William Ruto, accompanied by his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping acknowledge grreetings from school children at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China. President William Ruto, who is on a state visit to China, said that Kenya will strengthen co-operation with China to confront challenges and push for shared success. In particular, he said Kenya will upgrade her infrastructure to promote connectivity, hence facilitate trade in Kenya and within the region. [PCS] For those that may not be in the know, the Chinese people and culture emphasises on building a friendship as a precursor to their diplomatic, trade…
In this June 29, 2019, file photo, U.S. President Donald Trump, left, shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a meeting on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Osaka, western Japan. The ongoing sharp deterioration in U.S.-China ties poses risks to both countries and the rest of the world. [AFP] In a normal year, the Easter season would be a time for businesses to reap big as consumers loosen their wallets to make merry as they reflect on the crucifixion of Christ. This year however, it appears things will be significantly different due the uncertainty posed by the…
US China trade war to drag global economy into recession Published Date: 2025-04-18 11:56:47 Author: By Patrick Muinde Source: The Standard
U.S. President Donald Trump listens to questions from reporters at the Oval Office at the White House on April 17, 2025 in Washington, DC. [AFP] In a normal year, the Easter season would be a time for businesses to reap big as consumers loosen their wallets to make merry as they reflect on the crucifixion of Christ. This year, however, it appears things will be significantly different due to the uncertainty posed by the unprecedented Trump tariffs on US imports. Many of the US trading partners and allies have been measured in their response to President Donald Trump’s unprovoked aggression.…
Butere girls students protest at Melvin Jones in Nakuru during the 63rd edition of the Kenya National Drama and Film Festival on April 10,2025. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard] The National Drama and Film Festivals would ordinarily pass as a thrilling season for art lovers and a moment for young people to demonstrate their raw and pure talent. In many such festivals, some actors have not only found their breakthrough into stardom, but also have had their careers and livelihoods redefined. However, this year, it seems we have a found an unintended new version of heroes courtesy of government functionaries meddling in…