The Member of Parliament for Dagoretti North, Hon. Beatrice Elachi, continues to shine as she champions development projects across the constituency. Known for her warm and kindhearted leadership, Hon. Elachi has once again demonstrated her commitment to improving learning environments for local children.
A morning inspection at Milimani Comprehensive School showed significant progress in the construction of a new perimeter wall. The project, now steadily taking shape, is a major milestone in enhancing security and safeguarding the welfare of learners.
According to the project updates, the new wall will not only protect the school grounds but also offer parents peace of mind, knowing their children are learning in a secure and well-defined environment.
The MP affirmed her resolve to ensure the project is completed before schools reopen in January. “Our goal is that by the end of this month, learners will return to a safer, improved school environment where they can concentrate fully on their education,” she stated.
Hon. Elachi emphasized that such investments reflect a broader commitment to strengthening institutions across the constituency. “Together, we are building a better future for our schools in Dagoretti North,” she said.
Tourism Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano, EGH continues to affirm her reputation as one of Kenya’s most impactful and forward-looking leaders, as the country celebrates a remarkable 48.1% surge in visitor arrivals—reaching 1.8 million visitors in just the first nine months of the year.
This phenomenal growth stands as a clear endorsement of Kenya’s bold shift to a visa-free travel policy, championed by H.E. President William Samoei Ruto and executed with exceptional precision, diplomacy and administrative excellence under the stewardship of CS Miano.
Her Touch: Calm, Capable and Transformational
CS Miano has been widely celebrated for her:
Steady, dependable leadership Clear strategic vision for tourism growth Ability to turn presidential directives into real, measurable outcomes Professionalism that inspires confidence locally and globally
Her calm authority, meticulous attention to detail and deeply collaborative style have made her one of the most trusted voices in Kenya’s tourism renaissance.
A Minister Who Makes Big Ideas Work
Under her leadership, the Ministry has not only implemented the visa-free policy smoothly, but has also worked tirelessly to ensure seamless entry for all travellers, spearheading improvements to the Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) system and modernising frontline immigration processes.
CS Miano understands that the world is watching Kenya—and she has positioned the country as a truly borderless, welcoming, world-class destination.
A Leader Who Makes People Feel Seen and Welcomed
Her approach to tourism is not just technical; it is human. It reflects her belief that every visitor carries Kenya’s story back to the world—and that their experience begins the moment they decide to come.
Her warmth, authenticity and unwavering professionalism have made her:
a favourite among international partners,
a respected figure in regional diplomacy, and
a reassuring, inspiring presence to industry stakeholders.
A Future Built on Excellence
As visitor numbers rise, it is clear that Kenya’s global appeal is being powered not only by bold policy shifts, but by CS Rebecca Miano’s exceptional leadership, which continues to elevate Kenya’s profile as the ultimate safari, culture and beach destination.
She is guiding the sector with the confidence of a seasoned executive and the heart of a leader who deeply believes in Kenya’s potential.
Kenya’s tourism future is bright—and under CS Miano, it is in very capable hands.
Kajiado County on Tuesday kicked off a major land milestone with the issuance of lease titles across six rapidly growing townships—marking a decisive step toward ending decades of land insecurity and unlocking new investment opportunities.
Governor Joseph Ole Lenku led the exercise alongside National Land Commission (NLC) Chief Executive Officer, CHRP Kabale Tache Arero, in what officials described as one of the most transformative land regularisation programmes undertaken in the county in recent years.
Governor’s Vision for Livable, Well-Documented Towns
The initiative forms part of the Governor’s wider agenda for Livable Towns—a plan aimed at providing authentic and verifiable land ownership documents to residents of fast-expanding urban centres including:
Kajiado Town
Kitengela
Isinya
Namanga
Embulbul
Oloitokitok
With more than 36,000 validated plots across 52 townships** set to receive official lease titles, the Governor said the programme will enable landowners to access credit facilities from reputable financial institutions and spur new investments in the urban economy.
“This exercise will empower our local economies as more investors confidently put their land to productive use,” he said. “We are cleaning up the land sector and restoring order to the mess we found eight years ago. Land is our greatest resource.”
Kabale Tache Arero Commended for Exceptional Stewardship
A highlight of the day was the recognition of NLC CEO CHRP Kabale Tache Arero, whose strong administrative leadership, integrity-driven reforms, and steady collaboration with counties have accelerated the long-delayed titling process.
Stakeholders and county officials noted that under her stewardship, the NLC has:
strengthened validation and verification procedures
streamlined inter-agency coordination
improved public confidence in land documentation
enhanced transparency in allocation and registration processes
Her presence on the ground and hands-on engagement in the Kajiado rollout were widely praised as a signal of the Commission’s renewed commitment to service delivery and citizen trust.
County leaders lauded her role in ensuring that titling processes remain professional, transparent, and aligned with national land management standards.
A Boost to Investment and Urban Growth
The issuance of the new lease titles is expected to unlock billions of shillings in potential credit, as landowners gain access to financing for construction, business expansion, and housing development.
The Governor affirmed that the exercise will continue in phases until all validated townships receive their titles.
Kiambu Woman Representative Ann Wamuratha on Tuesday continued her countywide empowerment drive with a visit to Mbichi in Githobokoni Ward, Gatundu North, where she launched a series of livelihood-boosting initiatives under the NGAAF programme.
The Woman Rep, known among residents for her energetic and passionate approach to service, oversaw the distribution of equipment and support items aimed at strengthening community groups, traders, and vulnerable households.
During the event, two community groups—Ngiriaini Community-Based Organization and Trippple Self-Help Group—received tents and 100 chairs each to enhance their capacity to host meetings and social functions.
Several groups from across Gatundu North also benefitted from empowerment cheques, including:
Mukurwe United Disabled Self-Help Group (Mang’u Ward)
Kioneki Market Traders Group (Mang’u Ward)
Igegania Soul Harvesters Widows Women Group (Chania Ward)
Gathaite Location Farmers Group (Githobokoni Ward)
In addition, a range of business tools and equipment was issued to support small enterprises and improve service delivery. Beneficiaries received chips fryers, UV machines, salon equipment such as hair dryers and blow dryers, shaving machines, boda boda umbrellas and helmets, market umbrellas, trolleys, and white canes for persons with visual impairment.
The Mbichi Boda Boda Group also secured a car-wash machine to help expand their income-generating activities.
Ms. Wamuratha said the programme is part of her ongoing efforts to uplift communities and ensure residents across the county have access to opportunities that enhance self-reliance.
“We are moving step by step, ensuring every household feels the impact. When we empower our people, we build stronger communities,” she said.
The NGAAF empowerment caravan will continue across Kiambu County in the coming weeks.
The Kenya School of Government (KSG) today hosted the official launch of the OAG Academy, an initiative expected to significantly elevate audit standards and reinforce the country’s governance framework. The event was presided over by the Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service, Mr. Felix Koskei, underscoring the highest level of government commitment to transparency and professional excellence in public service.
The new Academy—established through a partnership between KSG and the Office of the Auditor-General (OAG)—will focus on building advanced audit competencies, integrating emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), and attracting regional trainees. The initiative is tailored to ensure Kenya’s audit systems evolve in step with global digital transformations.
The launch brought together key public sector leaders in a show of unified support. Among those present were Auditor-General FCPA Nancy Gathungu, National Treasury Principal Secretary Dr. Chris Kiptoo, EACC CEO Mr. Abdi Mohamud, Public Service Commission Vice Chairperson Mrs. Mary Kimonye, and National Police Service Commission Chair Dr. Amani Yuda Komora.
As Kenya accelerates digital reforms and public sector modernization, strengthening audit capability remains central to improving efficiency, accountability, and fiscal discipline. The establishment of the OAG Academy signals a shared national commitment to safeguarding the integrity of public financial management.
KSG Director-General Prof Nura Mohamed, who continues to champion results-based performance within the institution, reaffirmed KSG’s dedication to driving excellence in public service training and capacity building.
State Department for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development has deepened its national empowerment agenda by extending NYOTA Project Business Training to some of the most marginalised and geographically isolated communities in Lamu West Constituency. On Sunday, Principal Secretary Hon Susan Mang’eni led a comprehensive outreach mission to several remote training sites deep within the expansive Boni Forest, reaffirming the government’s commitment to uplifting young people who have long faced barriers to economic opportunities.
For years, many villages in Lamu’s interior have grappled with persistent isolation caused by poor road networks, limited access to government services, recurring insecurity, and the vast forest terrain that cuts off entire communities from mainstream initiatives. Youth from areas such as Kiwayu, Ndau, Mkokoni and Kiangwe often trek long distances for basic services and have historically missed out on capacity building programmes that are easily accessible in urban counties.
Against this backdrop, the arrival of NYOTA Project training in these villages represents a major breakthrough.
The visit began at Kiwayu Primary School in Kiunga Ward where young trainees from Kiwayu and Ndau villages gathered for sessions on business development, financial literacy and enterprise management. Many of these trainees are from fishing and small scale trading backgrounds and have had little exposure to formal entrepreneurship training.
The team later travelled to Mkokoni Ward and then to Kiangwe Village in Basuba Ward where additional groups of young people were undergoing capacity building. The vast distances between these villages highlight the scale of effort required to deliver training within Lamu’s unique environment.
PS Mang’eni noted that the NYOTA Project was deliberately designed to respond to the realities of places like Lamu where geographical barriers often hinder participation in national programmes. She reiterated that the government’s approach ensures that a minimum of seventy young people per constituency benefit from enterprise development training irrespective of terrain, distance or security challenges.
“Through partnerships with government agencies, youth in Lamu now have an opportunity to tap into value addition, establish cottage industries and fully participate in the priority value chains of this region including opportunities within the blue economy,” said Hon Mang’eni.
The blue economy remains one of Lamu’s greatest yet underutilised assets. Young people involved in fishing, boat making, seaweed farming and marine related trades stand to gain significantly from structured entrepreneurship training and improved access to markets.
The Principal Secretary for Investment Promotion Abubakar Hassan encouraged the trainees to take advantage of the programme, noting that the government aims to grow businesses that can thrive beyond subsistence level. He added that sustainable youth enterprises have the potential to boost the local economy, reduce dependency and create employment within these historically marginalised communities.
Basuba Ward MCA Hon Deko Barisa Bwana welcomed the programme, noting that many local youths have never had direct engagement with national empowerment initiatives due to the region’s rugged terrain and limited connectivity. He said the NYOTA Project offers a renewed sense of inclusion and hope for families in Lamu’s remote wards.
Lamu West is among seventeen counties currently implementing the NYOTA Business Support Component. Across the country, forty two thousand seven hundred and thirty five trainees drawn from five hundred and ten wards were invited for the classroom based training sessions in accordance with the project target of onboarding at least seventy trainees per ward.
For Lamu’s remote communities, the project marks a significant shift from years of limited access to such programmes and provides a foundation for skills development, enterprise growth and long term economic resilience.
Nairobi, Kenya —* A new citywide coalition bringing together nearly 80 residents’ associations has been launched in Nairobi, marking one of the strongest citizen-led efforts yet to push for orderly urban development, environmental protection and improved safety in the capital.
Dubbed Metro Alliance, the movement aims to give Nairobians a more influential voice in shaping the city’s future at a time when rapid growth, unplanned construction and rising insecurity remain major concerns for residents.
Speaking during the launch, Metro Alliance Chairman Ndirangu Maina said the coalition will help consolidate scattered community efforts into a more coordinated and powerful platform. “Nairobi’s future belongs to its people; and today, we unite to shape it,” he said.
Four-point agenda
The Alliance will work under four thematic pillars:
Urban Planning: Advocating lawful and transparent development;
Environmental Stewardship: Protecting rivers, wetlands, forests and green spaces;
Governance & Cohesion: Strengthening public participation and oversight;
Security: Supporting community-based strategies for crime prevention.
Vice-Chairman Geoff Luseno said the Alliance will help restore order in a city where communities have long worked in isolation. “Now we stand together for lawful planning, environmental protection, and safer neighbourhoods,” he noted.
Secretary Samora Sikalieh said the coalition seeks to influence policy and ensure that development projects prioritise people over profit. “Our goal is simple: a Nairobi that works for everyone,” he said.
Engaging government
The Alliance plans to partner with government agencies, policymakers and civic organisations to enhance oversight, protect public assets and push for infrastructure improvements.
While culture is important, it can never be used to justify violence or abuse.
The Ministry of Gender strongly condemns the brutal assault of a pregnant woman in Mbenek Dapashi village, Narok Central. The attack by her brothers following her decision to leave her marriage is a grave violation of her rights, dignity, and humanity.
The Government remains firmly committed to ending Gender-Based Violence (GBV) by:
Supporting survivors with care and protection,
Ensuring access to justice, and
Holding all perpetrators and enablers fully accountable.
We commend the swift action of the National Police Service in arresting key suspects and urge for the immediate apprehension of all others involved in this heinous act.
Today in Narok, together with Cabinet Secretary Hon. Hanna Wendot Cheptumo, we engaged county leaders, administrators, legislators, and community representatives to reaffirm our collective resolve to eliminate GBV across the country.
No woman, child, or man should suffer violence in silence. As a nation, we must unite to end all forms of gender-based violence and build a society anchored on dignity, respect, and justice for all.
Ann Wangombe Principal Secretary, State Department for Gender
A simmering tender conflict at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) has boiled over into a full-blown legal and security crisis, casting a harsh spotlight on how Kenya’s most sensitive aviation services are managed.
In a petition filed before the High Court and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), whistle-blower Fredrick Mulaa paints a picture of an airport teetering on the edge of compromised security and collapsing protocol standards. The heart of the dispute lies in the coveted “meet and assist” service—a discreet but powerful operation responsible for ushering in diplomats, dignitaries, foreign delegations, and other VIP travellers.
These services, common at major international airports, demand rigorous professionalism, specialised clearance, and airtight security procedures. But according to the petition, JKIA’s version has descended into a battlefield of competing interests, questionable decisions, and outright defiance of legal orders.
Trouble first erupted when the Kenya Airports Authority’s (KAA) 2021 procurement process for the service was nullified by the High Court. A 2024 re-tendering effort appeared to offer a reset—until Tradewinds Aviation Services was disqualified at the technical evaluation stage. Yet, in a twist that has shocked industry insiders, KAA allegedly went ahead and signed contracts with Tradewinds and Umbato Safaris Limited—companies that had been previously disqualified or declared non-compliant.
The petition accuses KAA and its acting Managing Director, Dr. Mohammed Gedi, of disregarding binding court decisions and public procurement laws to force through the contracts. In what lawyers describe as a “blatantly illegal and corrupt” process, qualified bidders were sidelined, prompting legal action and public outcry.
The consequences, the petition argues, have already spilled into the security realm. JKIA—long considered a key regional gateway—has reportedly seen a rise in breaches linked to poorly vetted personnel and irregular access resulting from the disputed contracts. Alarm bells rang even louder when four suspects were arraigned on October 7 at the JKIA Law Courts for allegedly participating in a drug trafficking ring believed to be using the airport as a transit point.
A letter from S and S Advocates to the KAA Managing Director, also sent to the EACC, accuses the agency of openly violating court orders and endangering national security by allowing disqualified firms to operate.
The petition now seeks declarations that KAA violated the Constitution and procurement laws, setting the stage for a court battle that could redefine how critical airport services are awarded and monitored.
As the case moves through the corridors of justice, JKIA finds itself at the crossroads of legality, security, and public trust. For Kenya’s busiest airport, the outcome may determine not just who controls VIP access—but how safe and credible the gateway to the nation truly is.
Kenya’s profile on the global tourism stage has once again received a significant boost following our prominent mention in Travel + Leisure’s “Best Places to Go in 2026,” an internationally respected ranking that shapes travel decisions for millions around the world. This recognition is not only a testament to Kenya’s enduring appeal but also a clear signal that our efforts to elevate the country’s tourism offering are being felt far beyond our borders.
The inclusion of Kenya in this influential list comes at a defining moment for global travel. Today’s traveller is discerning, environmentally aware, and increasingly drawn to destinations that offer authenticity, meaningful cultural exchange, and responsible interaction with nature. Kenya stands uniquely positioned in this landscape. Our vast savannahs, exceptional wildlife conservation models, thriving cultural heritage, and steadily improving infrastructure together create a compelling proposition that few destinations can match.
What the Travel + Leisure feature reinforces is that Kenya is not merely a stop along a safari trail; it is a world-class destination whose diversity continues to evolve. From the timeless beauty of the Maasai Mara to the tranquillity of our coastal stretch, from the bustling creativity of Nairobi to the geological wonders of the Rift Valley, Kenya offers layered experiences that appeal to a broad spectrum of travellers. These qualities — paired with increased accessibility and enhanced visitor services — are at the heart of why the world continues to take notice.
This recognition also reflects the strategic direction pursued by the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife. Over the past several years, we have prioritised investments in connectivity, standards, and sustainability. New and improved roads have opened access to previously underserved destinations. Upgrades in accommodation and service quality are ensuring that visitors enjoy world-class experiences at every price point. At the same time, the growth of community-based tourism continues to empower local populations, ensuring that the benefits of tourism are felt widely and equitably.
However, international acclaim comes with responsibility. As interest in Kenya increases, so too must our commitment to preserving the natural and cultural assets that form the backbone of our tourism appeal. We remain steadfast in reinforcing wildlife protection measures, supporting conservation partners, and ensuring that tourism development follows principles of sustainability and respect for local communities. Our vision is not growth for its own sake, but growth that endures — growth that protects, uplifts, and inspires.
The coming years present a remarkable opportunity. With Kenya now spotlighted as a top global destination for 2026, we must seize this momentum. We are intensifying marketing efforts in key source markets, strengthening partnerships across the aviation and hospitality sectors, and accelerating programmes aimed at diversifying our tourism offerings. This includes promoting adventure tourism, cultural circuits, sports tourism, and conferencing — all areas where Kenya has demonstrated strong potential.
To the global traveller, I extend this invitation: Come and experience a nation where nature, culture, and innovation converge. Whether you seek adventure, tranquillity, or discovery, Kenya offers an experience that resonates long after the journey ends.
Our story is one of beauty, resilience, and boundless possibility — and the world is taking notice.
