EAST AFRICA TIMES

 By East Africa Times Reporter  Controller of Budget, Margaret Nyakang'o. Picture : Courtesy  Murang'a Governor Irungu Kang'ata is facing intense scrutiny over allegations of financial mismanagement concerning the county's bursary funds. The Controller of Budget, Margaret Nyakang'o, has raised serious concerns about the administration's handling of these funds, suggesting that mismanagement may have deprived thousands of needy students of educational support. An audit report by the Controller of Budget revealed that millions allocated for bursaries could have been misappropriated, with accounting officers failing to submit required financial reports. This lack of accountability hampers the ability to confirm whether the funds reached the intended beneficiaries. Further compounding the issue, a Senate oversight committee has ordered a forensic audit into the Murang'a County Education Scholarship Fund after Governor Kang'ata failed to satisfactorily explai...

 By Jameson Mutua  Murang’a County Governor Irungu Kang’ata has initiated contempt of court proceedings against Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang'o, accusing her of defying a valid court order by failing to approve the release of county bursary funds. Governor Kang’ata claims that despite a court directive allowing the disbursement of the bursary monies, Dr. Nyakang'o has refused to okay their release, thereby frustrating hundreds of needy students who rely on the funds for their education. The governor maintains that the earlier court orders, which temporarily stopped the issuance of bursary funds in previous cycles, did not apply to the current financial year's budget allocations. According to documents filed in court, Kang’ata argues that the Controller of Budget’s continued withholding of the funds constitutes a violation of the judicial directive and undermines the right of deserving Murang’a residents to access education support. He has asked the court to cite Dr....

 By James Mutua  Principal Secretary State Department of Devolution addresses the media during the closure of the Training for Trainers workshop for Establishment of Project Management committees held in Makueni County Local communities will now have a big influence in development projects being implemented by county Governments. This is after the establishment of community led project management committees, an initiative spearheaded by the State Department of Devolution under the Second Kenya Devolution Support Program. Speaking during the closure of Training for Trainers Workshop held at Acacia Resort in Makueni County, Principal Secretary, State Department of Devolution, Michael Loikenu Lenasalon termed the community led committee as transformative in “restructuring how communities are involved and engaged” in county led development projects. “The PMCs are established to ensure wananchi priorities inform projects to be implemented by counties. This will strengthen public pa...

  By Kelvin Malik The Special Schools Heads Association of Kenya (SSHAK) kicked off its annual Delegates Conference at the Kenya Institute of Special Education (KISE), spotlighting national efforts to advance inclusive education. The event was officiated by Dr. Kristina Wambui Kenyatta-Pratt, Chairperson of the National Fund for the Disabled of Kenya (NFDK), who represented Principal Secretary for Basic Education, Mr. Julius Bitok, as Chief Guest. Dr. Pratt, a pioneer in special education and a lifelong advocate for disability rights, commended school heads for their leadership in driving inclusive practices. “Inclusion must be deliberate. Every child deserves an education that respects and supports their abilities,” she said. Mr. Daniel Sanoe, Deputy Director of Programs at KISE, welcomed delegates and outlined the Institute’s expanded mandate, which includes overseeing Educational Assessment and Resource Centers (EARCs) and distributing assistive devices and learning materials na...

By Elijah Odanga DIB Bank Kenya (DIBBK), a fully owned subsidiary of Dubai Islamic Bank PJSC—the largest Islamic bank in the United Arab Emirates—has officially opened a new branch in South C, Nairobi. This expansion underscores the bank’s commitment to strengthening its presence in the Kenyan capital and enhancing access to Shariah-compliant financial services. “This branch opening showcases our Seven Years of Commitment and Seven Branches of Growth,” said Ms. Mary Kanuku, Acting CEO and Managing Director of DIB Bank Kenya. “Since establishing our presence in 2017, we have remained focused on serving the evolving needs of both our existing and prospective customers. Today’s launch marks the first of two new branches opening this year, with the Nyali branch in Mombasa scheduled to open next week. Our growth is not merely about numbers—it is rooted in the ethical foundations of Shariah banking.” The new South C branch will provide a comprehensive suite of personal and business banking s...

By East Africa Times Reporter  The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have deployed military units to secure civilians and humanitarian medical personnel in Zamzam Camp, in North Darfur State, following the successful liberation of the camp from the control of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and their allies from the Islamic Terrorist Movement and affiliated armed mercenary movements that used the camp as a military barracks, and innocent civilians as human shields.  The RSF categorically rejects the false allegations that its members targeted civilians within Zamzam Camp and calls for accuracy and reliability in the reporting and assessment of events.  We point out that the so-called 'Joint Force' and elements of affiliated mercenary movements have continued to use Zamzam Camp as a military base, deliberately exploiting innocent civilians as human shields, in a clear and blatant violation of international humanitarian law.  The RSF leadership affirms that certain parties ha...

By East Africa Times Reporter  Over 30 leaders of networks of people living with HIV (PLHIV) from across the globe convened in Nairobi this week for the PLHIV Leadership Summit 2025, a crucial gathering organized by the Global Network of People Living with HIV (GNP+). The summit served as a rallying point to unify PLHIV voices and shape global and national HIV strategies in an era marked by funding crises and shifting public health priorities. With the global HIV response facing a crossroads, the summit emphasized the urgent need to fortify local advocacy and align it with international efforts aimed at securing access to life-saving treatment and quality healthcare for the over 40 million people living with HIV worldwide. Global Setbacks and Funding Cuts Threaten Progress In stark contrast to earlier gains, the global fight against HIV is now in peril. In 2023, an estimated 9 million people living with HIV lacked access to treatment, and 630,000 people died from AIDS-related cause...

By East Africa Times Reporter  In a time when the voice of truth fades in the face of the noise of weapons, Sudan is experiencing one of its bloodiest chapters, amid a brutal war that has destroyed everything in its path, leading to an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe. Despite the expanding scope of violations and the documentation of crimes, the Sudanese army insists on promoting alternative narratives, attempting, through a directed political discourse, to portray itself as a victim of foreign interventions, while turning a blind eye to the atrocities committed against Sudanese civilians and disregarding its responsibility in fueling the conflict. Undeniable Evidence: From Chemical Weapons to Field Executions On the ground, UN testimonies and human rights reports leave no doubt that the Sudanese armed forces are directly involved in a series of grave violations.  These violations have not been limited to battlefield fighting but have extended to targeting civilian area...

By East African Times Reporter  A market in North Darfur's capital al-Fasher after it was destroyed in an aerial bombardment in Sudan. International human rights pressure on the Sudanese army continues to grow, following the explicit accusations made by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk, who on Thursday accused the army and its allied militias of committing large-scale executions of civilians in Khartoum. While Volker Turk expressed his shock at reliable reports of extrajudicial executions of civilians suspected of cooperating with the Rapid Support Forces, he called on Sudanese army leaders to take immediate measures to end the arbitrary deprivation of life. Sudanese army leaders are facing a real dilemma following increasing international reports, from the highest levels, about the army's violations. According to observers, this paves the way for new sanctions and criminal trials, after reports from Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and local Sudanese...