🇰🇪KenyaEast Africa
K24 TV, Oscar Sudi, and Uhuru Kenyatta clash over media criticism of President Ruto's government
via Tuko3 min read
A media-political dispute involving President William Ruto and Standard Media Group has expanded to include K24 Television, Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi, and former President Uhuru Kenyatta. The conflict began after President Ruto accused Standard Media Group and its owner, former Baringo senator Gideon Moi, of running a propaganda campaign against his administration. K24 TV, owned by MediaMax which is linked to former President Uhuru Kenyatta, then published an open letter to President Ruto criticizing his attack on the media, linking it to the remembrance of young Kenyans who died during anti-government protests. Oscar Sudi, a vocal ally of President Ruto, responded by accusing former President Kenyatta of hypocrisy and using MediaMax to undermine the current administration, referencing a past comment by Kenyatta about newspapers. K24 TV issued another open letter to Sudi, defining selective amnesia in public leadership as forgetting voters, the cost of living, unemployed youth, struggling parents, and small traders after elections. Sudi then criticized Kenyatta's administration, accusing the former president of leaving the country in economic distress and with empty coffers.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Tuko.
Kenya has secured a €25 million approximately KSh 3.7 billion commitment from the German government to bolster irrigation development, climate-smart agriculture, and food security initiatives. The funding was agreed upon during Government-to-Government Development Cooperation negotiations in Berlin, led by Principal Secretary for the National Treasury Dr. Chris Kiptoo and Joachim Schmitt, head of division at Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development BMZ. Principal Secretary for Irrigation Ephantus Kimotho advocated for increased support for smallholder irrigation projects. The agreement includes €2 million in grant funding for community engagement and project preparation, and an additional €3 million for transforming food systems and strengthening food security through sustainable agricultural practices. Furthermore, an additional €20 million was committed for the expansion of smallholder irrigation schemes across seven counties, building on the success of the Smallholder Irrigation Programme in the Mount Kenya region, which has completed five projects covering 1,300 acres and benefiting 1,540 farmers. These projects are projected to increase annual earnings from KSh 12.4 million to KSh 45.7 million. The German support aims to enhance farm productivity, strengthen market access, create economic opportunities, improve market linkages, and promote coordinated investment planning between county governments and private-sector players.
Must ReadIndigenous and local communities across Kenya have initiated the "Sajili Ardhi ya Jamii Campaign," a nationwide effort urging the government to accelerate the implementation of the Community Land Act of 2016. This law was intended to secure community ownership rights nearly a decade ago, but organizers state that only 64 out of approximately 1,000 community lands have received title deeds since 2016. The campaign highlights that millions of hectares remain unregistered due to costly and lengthy procedures, leaving many communities vulnerable to land grabbing, displacement, and conflicts. The current registration process can cost up to KSh 20 million, which is unaffordable for many, and is further hampered by paper-based land records. The campaign calls on President William Ruto's government to introduce a more affordable and community-driven registration system, allow communities to lead in identifying and mapping their land boundaries, and implement a nationwide mass registration program. They also advocate for amendments to key laws, including the Adjudication Act, the Survey Act, and the Community Land Act, to reduce bureaucratic hurdles and lower costs. The ultimate goal is to ensure all eligible community lands are registered and issued with title deeds by 2030. The campaign is a collaborative effort involving organizations such as the Drylands Learning and Capacity Building Initiative, Community Land Action Now!, and Namati.
Chaos erupted in Githurai 45 during the commemoration of anti-Finance Bill 2024 protest victims, with reports of rogue youths robbing residents and businesses. Uniformed police officers were observed to be seemingly unbothered by the incidents. The June 25 demonstrations were intended to honor Gen Z individuals who died during the 2024 protests. While protests in other areas remained peaceful, Githurai 45 saw violence. Citizen TV footage reportedly showed officers idle as robberies occurred. Subsequently, a contingent of civilian police was deployed to disperse and arrest youths involved in robberies and setting bonfires. Along Thika Road, youths blocked the road at Roysambu, engaged police in confrontations, and caused destruction, including throwing stones at vehicles. Anti-riot police fired shots into the air to protect commuters and businesses. Several arrests were made, including one individual suspected of phone theft. Government officials had urged peaceful demonstrations.