Police escort tourists in Isiolo amid protests after Gachagua's Kenya safety warning
via Tuko3 min read
A video shows heavily armed police officers escorting a tourist convoy through Isiolo Town, where streets were blocked by protesters. This footage emerged days after businesswoman Angelina Kananu, 49, was fatally shot near the Isiolo main bus stage on July 20. The incident sparked protests with residents demanding arrests and highlighting a rise in violent crime. The video gained wider attention following former deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's travel alert on July 19, urging tourists to postpone visiting Kenya due to insecurity. Immediate former government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura criticized Gachagua's remarks, asserting Kenya's safety and stability. Gachagua defended his warning, stating his concern for the tourism sector and the potential long-term damage from incidents involving tourists.
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The Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives KNUNM has issued a seven-day nationwide strike notice, stating that nurses and midwives will begin industrial action on July 29, 2026, if their demands are not met. The union, through General Secretary Seth Panyako, sent the notice to various government offices, including the Ministry of Health and the Public Service Commission. Key grievances, which KNUNM claims have been unresolved for over a decade, include stalled negotiations for the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement, failure to implement the 2017 Return-to-Work Agreement, and delays in processing payroll for Universal Health Coverage staff. The union also demands the implementation of Career Guidelines for Nursing Personnel and the reinstatement of 46 nurses dismissed by the County Government of Kisii in 2021. KNUNM has instructed branch officials to mobilize members for the strike, which could significantly disrupt healthcare services across Kenya if the issues are not addressed within the specified timeframe.
Must ReadThe Nairobi Metropolitan Mass Rapid Transit System NMRTS is gaining momentum following recent meetings between National Government officials and the Nairobi City County Executive Committee. The project, approved by Governor Johnson Sakaja's committee, aims to transform mobility in the Nairobi Metropolitan Area by reducing chronic traffic congestion, which currently leads to an estimated KSh 130 billion in annual economic losses. Silvester Kasuku, Advisor on Governance in the Executive Office of the President, held working meetings with Transport Principal Secretary Mohammed Daghar and Eng. Joseph Mbugua, Principal Secretary for the State Department for Roads, to advance implementation plans. The NMRTS is expected to reduce daily commuter travel times, recover KSh 53 billion annually in productivity losses, and stimulate economic growth through Transit-Oriented Development. It also promises environmental and social benefits, including lower greenhouse gas emissions and improved public transport. Governor Sakaja described the NMRTS as a transformative national development program aligned with Kenya Vision 2030 and the African Union's Agenda 2063, designed to support Nairobi's growing population, projected to reach 11.5 million by 2063.
Billionaire Chris Kirubi's Bendor Farm in Thika, spanning 1,000 acres, was the site of his burial and a significant agricultural venture. The farm includes a 15-acre man-made lake, named Lake Kirubi, which was a primary reason for his purchase of the property. Initially, Kirubi engaged in coffee farming but shifted to bananas and avocados due to dissatisfaction with coffee market prices. He dedicated between 250 and 300 acres to banana cultivation, claiming it to be Kenya's largest banana plantation, and also cultivated avocados for export. Kirubi had plans to develop Lake Kirubi into a recreational area for fishing and water skiing. He was actively involved in the farm's management, valuing input from his manager and long-serving workers. The farm, characterized by its vastness and a network of dirt roads, represented Kirubi's belief in diversification, showcasing a focus on food security and long-term land investment beyond his well-known media and manufacturing interests.