Kenya: IEBC defends government giveaways during campaigns, forensic audit uncovers KSh 6.4 billion payroll fraud, and Ol Kalou by-election becomes Ruto-Gachagua showdown
via Tuko7 min read
Kenyan newspapers on July 16, 2026, covered several key stories, including the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission's IEBC defense of government-branded item distribution and public project rollouts during election campaigns. IEBC commissioner Anne Nderitu stated that such activities do not automatically constitute voter bribery under Kenyan law, distinguishing them from "voter treatment" which is not an electoral offense. She emphasized that development programs should continue regardless of the political calendar and that citizens should not be denied government services during elections. Nderitu also acknowledged the challenges of policing vote buying due to legal gaps and the high threshold for proving bribery. Separately, a forensic audit revealed a multi-billion-shilling payroll fraud scheme estimated to have cost taxpayers KSh 6.4 billion. The fraud, uncovered after internal auditors detected suspicious payroll irregularities, affected 14 ministries, state agencies, and county governments, including the Ministry of Lands, National Police Service, and Ministry of Health. Investigators believe rogue officials manipulated the payroll system through fraudulent allowance payments. President William Ruto has directed the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to investigate the fraud, recover stolen funds, and prosecute those responsible. The Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election was also a major focus, seen as a political contest between President William Ruto and f
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Must ReadA team of five wildlife veterinarians from the Kenya Wildlife Service KWS and three conservancies successfully performed what is believed to be the world's first corrective surgery for atresia ani on a five-day-old white rhinoceros calf named Bahati. Bahati, born at Ol Pejeta Conservancy, had a fatal congenital condition that left the calf without a rectal opening. The two-hour procedure, conducted at Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy, involved creating a functional rectal opening. The operating team included Dr. Mukami Ruoro Oundo and Dr. Mathew Mutinda Ndunda from KWS, Dr. Robert Aruho from Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy, Dr. Joseph Mbuthia from Ol Pejeta Conservancy, and Dr. Benjamin Oundo from Northern Kenya Veterinary Services. Following the surgery, Bahati was successfully revived and passed stool for the first time, confirming the procedure's success. KWS highlighted this as a landmark achievement in wildlife veterinary medicine and conservation collaboration, emphasizing the importance of such efforts for the conservation of white rhinoceroses, a conservation-dependent species.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations DCI in Kenya announced a major technology upgrade for processing Police Clearance Certificates, also known as Certificates of Good Conduct. The new Multi-Biometric Identification System MBIS-ABIS Version 5 is set to go live on Monday, July 20, 2026. The DCI stated that this platform will offer faster processing, smarter technology, and an improved experience for applicants, aiming to eliminate delays and enhance efficiency through advanced biometric technology. The agency assured the public of a smoother and more efficient application process, with more details to be released during the official launch.
The High Court in Kenya has dismissed a petition by the Rastafarian community that sought to decriminalize the use of bhang, also known as cannabis. Justice Bahati Mwamuye ruled that the evidence presented by the petitioners, aiming to link bhang use to their religious beliefs, was inconsistent. The petition had challenged the constitutionality of laws criminalizing bhang, arguing they infringed on the community's right to freedom of religion and worship. However, the court was not persuaded that the legal threshold to invalidate existing laws had been met. This decision means bhang remains an illegal substance in Kenya under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Control Act, with possession, cultivation, trafficking, and consumption continuing to attract criminal penalties. The ruling is expected to influence future constitutional challenges regarding bhang use on religious grounds. The Rastafarian community has not yet indicated whether they will appeal the decision.