By Cantona Joseph Published on: March 19, 2026 05:14 (EAT)

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President William Ruto during a tour of Busia County on March 18, 2026. PHOTO | PCS

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President William Ruto is set to kick off a 4-day development tour of the Nyanza region on Friday, March 20, to commission numerous development projects across the four counties of Kisumu, Migori, Homa Bay and Siaya.

The Head of State will also host elected leaders from Nyanza at the Kisumu State Lodge, where sources privy to the meeting say they’ll engage in discussions over ongoing projects and those in the pipeline.

While confirming the President’s visit, Nyanza Regional Commissioner Flora Mworoa noted that all security arrangements had been finalized to host the Head of State. 

On Saturday, President Ruto alongside his Ugandan counterpart Yoweri Museveni, will be at Kibos to commission the construction works for phase 2B of the 369-kilometre Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) line extending from Naivasha through Kisumu to Malaba. 

Mworoa stated that the SGR is a momentous project for the region, saying it’s poised to open up the region for economic growth especially in the ease of movement of people and goods from Nairobi to Kisumu and onwards to Malaba, Uganda.

She pointed out that numerous guests are expected to grace the SGR launch in Kibos, adding that all security arrangements have been put in place. 

Mworoa added that on the same day, President Ruto will commission a blue economy project at Asat beach in Seme sub-county, launch a road project in Kisumu West sub-county as well as an affordable housing project in Yala, Gem sub-county.

On Sunday, President Ruto will visit Homa Bay County, where he is expected to attend an interdenominational prayer in Kasipul, inspect works at the Adiedo-Karabok road in Karachuonyo and later commission Rusinga ring roads projects in Suba North.

On the same day, the Head of State will inspect ongoing works at the Mamboleo-Chemelil-Kipsitet road, which is key to connecting the counties of Kisumu, Nandi and Kericho and is expected to boost trade and sugarcane farming, which is a mainstay for most locals.

Mworoa added that the Head of State will continue his tour of projects on Monday, where he will tour projects in Kuria East, Kuria West, Ndhiwa and Uriri constituencies of Migori County.

She noted that President Ruto will wind up his tour of the region on Tuesday by commissioning two projects in Siaya County including the groundbreaking of the Usenge pier by Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) and later an affordable housing project in Nyatike, Migori county.

RC Mworoa explained that the outlined projects are key to changing the development face of the Nyanza region, adding that they form key pillars of the BETA plan.

She called on locals to turn up in their numbers but cautioned political leaders to keep away from turning the development tour into local political contests.

‘I’m not apologetic,’ President Ruto fires back at Opposition

President William Ruto signals a two-term hand signal in Kimilili, Bungoma County, on March 18, 2026. Photo/PCS

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President William Ruto has defended his latest outburst against opposition leaders, saying he is not apologetic and is ready to take them head-on.

Speaking on day three of his tour of the Western Kenya region, President Ruto said the opposition leaders started the personality politics and must be ready to face the music. 

President Ruto, on the third day of his tour of the Western Kenya region, traversed Busia, Kakamega and Bungoma counties, where he launched a rural electrification project, market construction, a 10,000 seater stadium, the Matayos-Nangina-Sio Port-Mubaka road and Nangina affordable housing project.

Public universities drown in over Ksh.100 billion debt, MPs demand answers

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Public universities across the country are drowning in debt, with liabilities topping Ksh.100 billion, a burden that could threaten the survival of some institutions.

Higher Education PS Dr Beatrice Inyangala told Parliament that the mounting debts are choking the universities, prompting MPs to demand urgent answers from the ministry.

Meanwhile, the ministry is seeking Parliament’s approval for a Ksh.14.36 billion supplementary budget to keep operations running smoothly.

Appearing before Parliament’s education committee, the state department for education laid bare its financial situation, revealing a massive funding gap that threatens the future of thousands of students.

To bridge that gap, at least until the next financial year, the department wants Parliament to approve an additional Ksh.14.3 billion.

At the heart of the request is a staggering Ksh.43.6 billion total budget gap facing the Higher Education Loans Board for the current and upcoming financial years. This gap has left more than 450,000 students unable to access financial support. Lecturers’ collective bargaining agreements also require nearly Ksh.4 billion to settle arrears.

But it isn’t the pressing funding issue that occupied the committee on Wednesday. Members of the committee also took issue with rising pending bills owed by public universities, now nearing Ksh.100 billion as of the end of last year, while those for private universities have doubled over the same period.

“Now you are arriving here with a figure of Ksh.60 billion when the owners are saying they are being owed 32. You are seeing why we are not happy with you. The pending bills thing, we are throwing it back to you. We want to resolve this, but you are making it murkier for us by giving us incorrect figures,” Julius Melly, chair of the education committee of Parliament, stated.

Dr Beatrice Inyangala also appeared before the committee to explain the ministry’s position.

Among the universities with the bulk of these debts are Egerton University with Ksh.25.5 billion in unpaid bills, University of Nairobi with Ksh.17 billion, Kenyatta University with Ksh.12.8 billion, and Moi University with Ksh.10.4 billion. Even amid these stifling bills, the ministry was hard-pressed to explain why one university was allocated Ksh.600 million.

“The PS was on record that they made a request of one billion that was not honoured, yet Treasury gave Ksh.600 million ring-fenced for one university, while there are 32 public universities,” an MP stated.

MPs also questioned stalled projects across universities, including those in Nairobi, Moi, Egerton, and Laikipia, while criticising continued allocation to fund new ones that remain incomplete, leaving students without support.

“We have stalled projects and we are still funding others, including others Hon. Mauungu has asked about. Yet as a state department, we are still not able to fund HELB and scholarships,” Clive Gesaro, MP, stated.

The Education Committee is expected to review these estimates in the coming days as the government weighs its priorities against a tightening national budget.

Second contingent of Kenya police return home as Haiti mission ends

Kenyan officers under the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) arrive from Haiti on March 17, 2026.

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The second contingent of Kenyan officers who were deployed to Haiti under the Multinational Security Support (MSS) landed on Kenyan soil on Tuesday evening as they had been commissioned to restore calm in the war-torn Caribbean nation.

The Kenya-led peacekeeping mission began in 2024 after approval by the United Nations Security Council. Kenyan forces were supported by contingents from Guatemala, El Salvador, Jamaica, the Bahamas, and Canada.

Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo welcomed the troops alongside other security officials, lauding the forces for their dedicated sacrifice and unwavering commitment to duty.

“In a foreign land, under difficult and often dangerous conditions, alongside the Haitian National Police, they upheld the highest standards of professionalism, discipline and courage, flying the Kenyan flag with distinction,” he said.

They also honoured three officers who died in the line of duty, as PS Omollo affirmed that their families will be supported.

The first contingent returned home on December 9, 2025, after an 18-month mission in Haiti.

About 980 officers from Kenya had been gradually deployed to Haiti to suppress gangs that had taken over the capital, Port-au-Prince.

This comes after a transition adopted by the United Nations Security Council saw the introduction of the Gang Suppression Force (GSF) and the end of MSS.

The GSF will have a maximum of 5,500 uniformed personnel, including police officers and soldiers, serving for an initial period of 12 months.

The United States, Panama, other member states and some countries within the Caribbean region back the new mission.

GSF will work in close collaboration with the Haitian National Police (HNP) and the Haitian Armed Forces (HAF) to conduct operations to neutralise gangs, secure critical infrastructure, and support humanitarian access.

PS Omollo further maintained that Kenya remains committed to working alongside Haiti and the international community to sustain the gains made and support long-term peace efforts.

Tuju property dispute: Ultra Eureka Director says company lawfully bought Karen property

Raphael Tuju addresses the press outside Supreme Court buildings after delivering the letter to CJ Martha Koome on March 13, 2026.

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The director of Ultra Eureka Limited says the company lawfully purchased a prime property in Karen through a public auction in October 2024, but was met with violence when attempting to take possession.

Jackson Kiplimo Chebett, in a replying affidavit filed in court, stated that Ultra Eureka Limited paid Ksh. 450 million for the property registered as L.R No.1055/165 (now Nairobi/Block 47/1399), which includes Tamarind Karen and Dari Business Park, and received all completion documents to formalize the transfer.

Chebett alleged that on March 10, 2026, the property was forcibly contested by supporters of former Cabinet Secretary Raphael Tuju.

The director claimed assailants attacked security personnel deployed by Ultra Eureka, leaving several guards seriously injured.

He further stated that police intervened to restore order, and both parties were asked to present ownership documents to SSP Mwanthi at Langata Police Station. 

According to Chebett, the Tuju camp refused to submit any documents, claiming that “documents would not tell the whole story,” and left the meeting accusing the officer of bias.

Ultra Eureka Limited maintains that it is now the lawful registered owner of the property and that any claim by the plaintiffs, including Tuju, is no longer valid. 

The company’s legal team has argued that any further remedy for the plaintiffs should be limited to damages in case the public auction is later declared irregular.

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