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AGRA Raises Alarm Over Slow Pace of Africa’s Agricultural Transformation AGRA President Alice Ruhweza speaks during the launch of the organisation’s 20-year Impact, Learning and Foresight Report in Nairobi on Monday, August 31, 2026. By Fride Amiani Africa’s agricultural sector has made significant progress over the past two decades, but millions of farmers are yet to reap meaningful financial benefits from increased production, a new report by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) has warned. The organisation says gains in productivity, seed development and food production have not translated into the level of farmer prosperity required to drive Africa’s agricultural transformation. AGRA’s 20-year Impact, Learning and Foresight Report, launched in Nairobi on Monday, shows that farmer incomes have doubled, cereal yields have increased by about 40 per cent and agricultural output has roughly doubled in real terms since 2005. Despite the gains, AGRA says farmers continue t...

  Kenyatta University Installs Prof. Okumu as New Vice-Chancellor, Challenged to Drive Innovation and Build on Gains Kenyatta University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Okumu speaks during his installation ceremony, where he outlined his vision for strengthening academic excellence, innovation, research and student welfare at the institution. By Fride Amiani  Nairobi, Friday 28th August 202 6-Kenyatta University has been challenged to strengthen its academic and research standing while preparing students to take up leadership roles across education, science, technology, innovation, sports and other fields. Speaking during the installation of Prof. [Name] Okumu as the university’s new Vice-Chancellor, Amb. Muthaura said the institution must remain focused on producing graduates capable of responding to emerging challenges in Kenya, Africa and beyond. Muthaura said leadership development should go beyond traditional areas such as sports and politics, urging students and scholars to pursue...

East Africa Told to Turn Education Promises into Jobs, Skills and Better Learning Cabinet Secretary for East African Community Affairs and Regional Development Beatrice Askul speaks during the second EAC Regional Education Conference in Nairobi on Wednesday, August 26, 2026. By Fride Amiani  Nairobi, Wednesday 26 August, 2026 East African governments have been challenged to move beyond education policies and commitments and focus on delivering measurable improvements in learning outcomes, skills development and employment opportunities for the region’s rapidly growing youth population. Cabinet Secretary for East African Community Affairs and Regional Development Beatrice Askul said while East Africa had made significant progress in expanding access to education, increased enrolment had not translated into corresponding improvements in the quality of learning. Askul said governments must now shift their focus from making policy commitments to implementing reforms that produce tangi...

Wandayi Warns Illegal LPG Dealers as Government Intensifies Crackdown Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi speaks during a briefing on the government’s intensified crackdown on illegal LPG dealers and illicit cylinder refilling cartels. By Fride Amiani  The Ministry of Energy and Petroleum has intensified its crackdown on illegal liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) dealers and illicit cylinder refilling cartels, warning operators flouting regulations that they will face sustained enforcement action. Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi said the government would not relent in efforts to eliminate illegal LPG activities, which he warned pose serious risks to consumers and the wider public. Wandayi said enforcement agencies would pursue businesses operating outside the law, insisting that the government would not allow political pressure or cartels to interfere with efforts to regulate the LPG sector. “We shall be relentless in pursuing you in the interest of...

  ABH Top 20 Entrepreneurs Face Judges in Nairobi as 10 Battle for Grand Finale Slots By Fride Amiani NAIROBI, August 20, 2026  Africa’s top 20 entrepreneurs have gathered in Nairobi for the semi-final stage of the Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH) 2026 competition, where they are competing for 10 slots in the Grand Finale scheduled to take place in Kigali, Rwanda, in December. The two-day semi-final, running from August 21 to 22, brings together entrepreneurs selected from more than 24,000 applications submitted from all 54 African countries. The Top 20 entrepreneurs, drawn from 12 African countries and 11 sectors, collectively generated approximately US$85 million in revenue in 2025, highlighting the scale and commercial potential of the businesses represented in the competition. The entrepreneurs are now facing a panel of judges who are assessing their businesses on key areas including leadership, innovation, social impact, scalability and commercial strength. The semi-finalis...

Kenya Housing Debate Shifts to Innovative Financing Models Kenya Mortgage Refinance Company (KMRC) Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Johnstone Oltetia speaks during the fifth Kenya Affordable Housing Conference at Lake Naivasha Resort in Nakuru County on August 20, 2026. By Fride Amiani   Kenya’s affordable housing debate is increasingly shifting from the construction of more homes to developing sustainable financing models that can enable more households to access and own affordable homes. The issue will take centre stage at the fifth Kenya Affordable Housing Conference, which brings together financial institutions, policymakers, developers, investors and housing stakeholders to explore innovative ways of widening access to homeownership. The two-day conference, organised by the Kenya Mortgage Refinance Company (KMRC), will be held from August 20 to 21 at Lake Naivasha Resort in Nakuru County under the theme, “Scaling the Base: Unlocking Inclusive and Sustainable Housi...

United Opposition Calls for ICC Probe into Ruto Over Alleged Political Violence PLP party leader Martha Karua speaks during a United Opposition press briefing, where she called for an ICC investigation into alleged political violence and urged Kenyans to reject goonism ahead of the 2027 General Election By Fride Amiani The United Opposition has called on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate President William Ruto over alleged political violence and the use of organised groups to disrupt opposition activities ahead of the 2027 General Election. The opposition alliance wants the ICC Office of the Prosecutor to closely monitor developments in Kenya and determine whether recent incidents of violence against opposition politicians and their supporters warrant international intervention. Speaking during a consultative engagement, People's Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua, who delivered the statement on behalf of the United Opposition, raised concern over what s...

Vijana Na Ruto Calls for Respect for Presidency, Condemns Political Violence Vijana Na Ruto National Chairperson Isaac Ntarangwe speaks during a press briefing in Nairobi, where the youth lobby group called for respect for the presidency, condemned political violence and urged young people to remain united and engaged ahead of the 2027 General Election. By Fride Amiani An inter-party youth lobby group, Vijana Naruto, has called on political leaders to uphold respect for the presidency, maintain parliamentary decorum and reject political violence as the country moves towards the 2027 General Election. The group, which brings together young people drawn from different political parties and is campaigning for the re-election of President William Ruto, issued the call while addressing what it described as a series of recent developments that threaten political discipline, national institutions and respect for the office of the President. Vijana Na Ruto National Chairperson Isaac Ntarangwe ...

Kenya, Huawei Deepen Partnership as Smart Grid Technology Takes Centre Stage in Energy Transition From left: Sean Lixiang, Director, Huawei Digital Power Department; Eng. Maureen Mwaniki, Director of Public Affairs, Huawei Kenya; Alex Wachira, CBS, Principal Secretary, State Department for Energy; Eng. Mary Njau, representative from Kenya Power (KPLC); and Eng. Peter Njenga, CEO, KenGen, during the Kenya Energy Transition Forum 2026 at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Upper Hill, Nairobi, on August 11, 2026. By Fride Amiani Kenya is stepping up efforts to modernise its electricity system and accelerate the transition to a smarter, more renewable-based energy sector, as the government deepens collaboration with technology firms to address emerging challenges in power generation and distribution. The State Department for Energy, under the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, in partnership with Huawei Kenya, convened the Kenya Energy Transition Forum 2026 at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Upper Hill, Nairo...