馃嚢馃嚜KenyaEast Africa
Kenya faces school safety crisis amid unrest, opposition grapples with 2027 presidential candidate selection
via Tuko6 min read
Kenya is experiencing a wave of unrest in schools, with numerous institutions affected by fires, strikes, and vandalism, raising concerns about student safety. The incidents follow a tragic fire at Utumishi Girls Academy that killed 16 students. Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok announced nationwide inspections to identify causes, attributing some incidents to examination pressure and poor communication. However, National Parents Association chairman Silas Obuhatsa described the situation as a national crisis, advocating for greater parental involvement. Meanwhile, fresh divisions are emerging within Kenya's opposition alliance regarding the selection of a presidential candidate for the 2027 General Election. People鈥檚 Liberation Party leader Martha Karua is advocating for a data-driven process, insisting that Kenyans, not political negotiations, should determine the best candidate to challenge President William Ruto. This stance puts her at odds with allies of Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua, who have traditionally favored consensus-building. The High Court's upcoming judgment on Gachagua's impeachment is also a critical factor, with analysts suggesting it could significantly impact the political landscape. In other news, a Nakuru family finally buried their loved one after a five-year wait, following a High Court order for the release of a man's body held in a mortuary over unpaid medical bills. Justice Julius Nang'ea ruled
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Must ReadThe Law Society of Kenya LSK has directed all advocates across the country to immediately boycott court hearings, effective July 17, 2026. The directive includes a one-day nationwide boycott and an indefinite targeted boycott of specific courts and judges. The targeted action applies to judges and judicial officers who have obtained court orders to restrain disciplinary proceedings against them by the Judicial Service Commission JSC or the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission EACC. Advocates are instructed to refrain from participating in all court hearings and applications during the boycott, with limited exceptions for obtaining fresh hearing dates or extending existing interim orders. Document filing and statutory deadlines remain unaffected. The LSK has formally notified the Judiciary of the boycott to facilitate administrative arrangements. The targeted boycott extends to the Supreme Court of Kenya, as the LSK states that most Supreme Court judges remain in office due to court orders restraining the JSC from acting on complaints against them. Advocates encountering affected judges are to request matter transfers, recusal, or adjournments. Non-compliance by judges, judicial officers, or advocates is to be reported to the LSK for potential complaints to the JSC and further action.
Must ReadThe Canadian government has updated its travel advisory for Kenya, placing eight counties on a high-risk red list due to concerns over terrorism and kidnapping. Mandera, Wajir, Garissa, and Lamu counties, bordering Somalia, are designated as no-go zones due to elevated risks of terrorist attacks and kidnapping. Turkana and Marsabit counties, specifically areas within 110 kilometers of the borders with South Sudan and Ethiopia, carry the same designation due to armed banditry and cross-border violence. Portions of Tana River county and areas of Kilifi county north of Malindi are also under the red-level advisory for kidnapping. Additionally, specific Nairobi neighborhoods, including Eastleigh, Kibera, and Pangani, are under a separate "avoid non-essential travel" classification due to high crime rates. For the rest of Kenya, Canadian citizens are advised to exercise a high degree of caution due to general terrorism threats and elevated crime. The advisory also notes that frequent power blackouts could lead to opportunistic theft and disrupt essential services. This warning comes as Kenya's tourism sector, which employs over 500,000 people, approaches its peak travel period, potentially facing fresh pressure from these advisories.
Must ReadThe Kenyan government confirmed that President William Ruto's official website, president.go.ke, was targeted in a cyberattack on Saturday, July 18, 2026. The Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo Gitau stated that the ICT Authority activated cyber incident response protocols upon detecting the breach. The presidential website was temporarily taken offline as a precautionary measure to facilitate containment, forensic analysis, and restoration efforts. The ministry reported that appropriate mitigation measures have been implemented and restoration is underway, with no evidence of unauthorized access to sensitive data, data exfiltration, or loss of information. Before the site was taken offline, hackers defaced the domain, replacing the homepage with a ransom demand in Bitcoins and threatening to leak government data if payment was not made. The government has not publicly identified the attackers or indicated its stance on the ransom demand. The ICT Authority is conducting a comprehensive forensic investigation with relevant government agencies and technical partners.