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By Cantona Joseph Published on: March 25, 2026 08:52 (EAT)

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Former DP Rigathi Gachagua speaks during an interview with Ramogi TV on March 25, 2026. PHOTO | cantona.digital

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Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has spoken on why he neither attended the State funeral service of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga at Nyayo National Stadium nor his subsequent burial in Bondo.

Speaking during an interview on Ramogi TV on Wednesday evening, the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader revealed that security concerns and intelligence reports informed his decision to stay away.

Gachagua claimed that there were organised plans to attack him during both events, which he says were intended to spark ethnic tensions between the Luo and Kikuyu communities.

“I had planned to go to the Nyayo National Stadium, and I got information that some goons had been arranged to attack me so that it could create conflict between the Luo nation and the Kikuyu nation,” he daid.

“I applied my mind as a senior politician and as a strategist and I realized that it was a very important occasion for Raila Odinga and his followers, and it would have been imprudent of me to seem like I had brought chaos into a very solemn ceremony that was very important.”

Gachagua explained that despite his intention to attend both the funeral service in Nairobi and the burial ceremony in Bondo, he opted out after assessing what he described as credible threats to his safety and the broader implications such incidents could have had on national cohesion.

“I planned to go to Bondo, I also got information. Where I’m coming from, as you know, I’ve been attacked by goons in this Nairobi, and most of them have been organized by a senior civil servant from Luo Nyanza. The goons that attacked me in church in Kariobangi…in Mwiki…when I was coming from the airport…were organized by a senior politician from Nyanza who is also organizing goons in Nyanza. The ones that heckled (Siaya Governor James) Orengo were organized by the same person,” he claimed.

The former DP further asserted that his decision was informed by intelligence from within security circles, warning that any attack against him in Bondo could have triggered wider ethnic tensions.

“I have my own intelligence, (so) I get to know what goes on in the security sector and in the country. So when I learnt that also in Bondo there were plans to attack me physically as a strategy to create a wedge between the Luo nation and the Kikuyu nation…because what would have happened if I was attacked in Bondo, the Kikuyu nation would’ve felt very bad, and (this would’ve) created enmity with the Luo nation who have nothing against me,” he stated.

He maintained that he enjoys goodwill among residents of the Nyanza region, citing past visits where he said he received a warm reception.

“The last time I was in the Luo nation in the company of William Ruto when I was his deputy, I was given such rousing welcome in Migori, Homa Bay, Siaya and Kisumu. For the four days we were in Nyanza, the Luo nation welcomed me like a king,” he said.

Gachagua added that he deliberately avoided both events to prevent any possibility of chaos during what he described as a solemn and significant moment for Odinga’s family and supporters.

“So I knew people who have dirty schemes of trying to create a wedge between the two communities wanted to attack me at Nyayo National Stadium and in Bondo to create conflict between the two communities, but I’m too smart of a politician to fall into such hands,” he added.

On why he has yet to visit Raila’s home in Bondo six months after his death and subsequent burial, Gachagua said he had already reached out to the family and is awaiting an appropriate time.

“I called Mama Ida Odinga and gave her my personal condolences…Pastor Dorcas and I…and we placed a request that we would like to go to Bondo, and she told us that things were still quite heavy and at an appropriate time she will give us an answer. We’re still waiting,” he said.

He emphasised that out of respect for family traditions and cultural norms, he would not visit the home uninvited.

“I was ready, with my elders and everybody, but we cannot go to a home unless the owner of that home tells us to come. She told us to wait and we’re still waiting. You cannot force yourself into somebody’s home. I’m an elder and a leader in this country, I’m also a person who respects families and homes and traditions,” he added.

‘I was calling for equality’: Gachagua clarifies remarks of Ruto favouring Nyanza, neglecting Kalenjins

Former DP Rigathi Gachagua speaks during an interview with Ramogi TV on March 25, 2026. PHOTO | cantona.digital

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Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has clarified his earlier remarks accusing President William Ruto of neglecting the Kalenjin community and taking all development projects to Nyanza, insisting his comments were meant to push for equitable development across the country.

Speaking during an interview on Ramogi TV on Wednesday night, Gachagua maintained that his statements were taken out of context and did not target any community.

Gachagua defended the remarks that he may have been segregating the Luo community, saying they were politically driven and aimed at ensuring fairness in resource distribution.

“Sijutii hayo matamshi kwa sababu sijaongea vibaya. Nimesema, Rais mlimpigia kura, yeye hakuji hapa, ningetaka aende Nyanza na pia akuje hapa, si ati aende Nyanza pekee yake, ata Mlimani yeye hakuji. Nilisema tulimpigia kura hapa Kericho, alienda Nyanza the whole Christmas, hakukuja hapa, sijasema asiende Nyanza, nilisema akitoka Nyanza akuje nyumbani kwa sababu hii Kenya ni yetu sisi sote,” he said.

The Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader further dismissed claims that his comments were directed at the Luo community, emphasising that political competition often involves sharp rhetoric.

“Hii ni matamshi ya kisiasa na iko na malumbano kwa sababu ni mashindano na lazima usifu yule ambaye unapigia campaigns, kuhujumu yule ambaye unapigana naye, lakini hakuna siku nimetoa matamshi ya kuhujumu jamii ya Waluo,” he added.

Gachagua reiterated that his position was rooted in the need for balanced leadership and equal service delivery across all regions.

“The President should visit everywhere…I was saying he was imbalanced because he cannot abandon the people who voted for him, and so he cannot spend all the time in one region. He must serve all Kenyans equally,” he said.

“I did not specifically have an issue with Nyanza, and I was just giving an example at the time over the Christmas period because it is the only more time he has.”

The former DP had previously accused President Ruto of sidelining the Kalenjin community in development, claiming that more focus had been directed to Nyanza region as part of political realignments ahead of the next general election.

Gachagua, who spoke in an interview with Kalenjin journalists early this year, said the President had prioritised communities outside the Kalenjin for development in his hunt for votes for re-election next year.

He also sought to assuage fears that he would sideline the Kalenjin community if his opposition outfit dethrones President Ruto in 2027.

“Rais alipitishwa na kura ya Mlima na ya Wakalenjin…sasa nikamwuliza Rais, kama tumesahau hawa Wakalenjin, walikuvumilia miaka tano, wewe umechukua kila kitu ukapelekea Nyanza, hutembelei hawa watu…ukija Kericho, Bomet, unakuja interdenomination…mbona hukuji kufungua project? Mimi nilimwuliza,” he said on February 21, 2026.

The DCP party boss said the Kalenjin community, despite having the President hail from their region, has largely been neglected.

“Hawa wakalenjin hawana mtetezi; wabunge wamenyamaza, masenator pia wamenyamaza, nani atatetea hao?” He posed then.

Ejaculating more frequently may improve sperm quality – new study

By The Conversation Published on: March 25, 2026 08:59 (EAT)

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When it comes to reproduction, female biology is often described in terms of a ticking clock. Women are born with most of their lifetime supply of eggs, meaning that a woman’s age is usually the same as the age of her eggs. Older women therefore produce older eggs.

But male reproduction works differently. Sperm are produced continuously from puberty onwards and can be stored in the reproductive tract before ejaculation. That means a man’s age is not necessarily the same as the age of his sperm. So what happens to sperm while they wait?

Men trying to conceive are often advised to remain sexually abstinent for several days to allow their sperm count to build up. It is true that abstinence increases sperm count. But the size of the ejaculate is not the only factor that determines fertility. Our new study shows that in men (and other male animals), sperm stored during sexual abstinence actually “ages” and deteriorates in quality.

We already know that male fertility declines with age. What has remained unclear is whether the time sperm spend in storage contributes to this decline.

Answering this question is particularly timely. Sexual activity appears to be declining, especially among young people. Combined with the global trend towards delayed parenthood, this may further exacerbate global fertility declines.

For our investigation, we collected semen data from 115 published studies involving nearly 55,000 men. We found that when men abstained from ejaculation, the health of their sperm dropped significantly. Sperm motility (their ability to swim) and viability decreased – and sperm DNA became more damaged.

We identified two likely causes. The first is oxidative stress – a form of biological “rust” that accumulates in sperm and can physically damage them. The second is energy depletion. Unlike most cells, sperm are highly active and have only a limited capacity to replenish their energy reserves. When stored for extended periods, they simply run out of fuel.

The World Health Organization advises against ejaculating two to seven days before providing a sperm sample for analysis, fertility treatments or procedures such as IVF. However, our findings suggest that even shorter periods may be better if sperm quality in the sample is to be improved.

This supports a recent discovery that ejaculating within 48 hours of providing a sample improves IVF treatment outcomes compared to longer durations of abstinence. It also aligns with a hypothesis in evolutionary biology.

We know that in primates, frequent ejaculation from masturbation improves the quality of ejaculates. Combined with our results, this suggests that male masturbation may have an adaptive benefit: it flushes out damaged, stored sperm.

Sperm does not just deteriorate inside males. It can also deteriorate after mating, when stored inside females. Human sperm only remains alive inside a woman for several days. However, in other animals such as queen ants, bees and female bats, sperm can be stored for several months or even years before eggs are fertilised.

The birds and the bees

To test whether sperm deterioration during storage is a widespread biological pattern, we examined data from 56 studies across 30 different animal species, including birds and bees, reptiles and other mammals. Here too, we found that sperm quality declined during storage.

Fathers who stored sperm before ejaculation, or mothers who stored it before fertilisation, produced embryos with lower chances of survival. We suspect this is not just due to damaged DNA. It may also be that stored sperm have a different gene expression profile – that is, a different pattern of which genes are actively switched on and being used – compared to freshly produced sperm.

Interestingly, sperm deteriorated at a slower rate inside females than inside males. This may be because females in several species have evolved specialised organs that secrete antioxidants, substances that nourish and protect the sperm they are storing, effectively extending their functional lifespan.

Whether in mice or men, sperm, much like eggs, have a “use-by date” after being produced. When sperm are stored for too long before fertilisation, they deteriorate in quality.

Crucially, however, our findings also point to a simple and potentially powerful intervention. Many fertility problems are driven by factors outside our control, such as environmental toxins, stress and genetics. But the duration of sperm storage is something that can be modified. Using freshly ejaculated sperm for fertilisation could therefore provide a meaningful boost to fertility outcomes by improving sperm quality.

30% of working Kenyans earn more than a year ago: Report

FILE — Kenyan currency notes are pictured inside a cashier’s booth at an Equity Bank branch, Nairobi, May 16 2023.

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More Kenyans are creating additional income streams and expanding businesses amid harsh economic pressures, according to the Old Mutual Financial Wellness Monitor.

The Wellness Monitor, which tracks the financial health of working Kenyans, notes that 30% of working Kenyans are now earning more than a year ago, while 47% own or co-own a business, with many others pursuing side hustles.

“Kenyans are not waiting for the economy to improve. In the face of economic pressure, they are actively engineering their own recovery, adapting, innovating, and finding new ways to improve their financial position,” said Old Mutual CEO Arthur Oginga.

The report attributed the rise to behavioural shifts, with 91% of Kenyans now reporting that they have a savings goal.

However, this progress is unfolding alongside persistent financial strain caused by the rising living costs, mounting debt, and expanding financial responsibilities, which continue to weigh on households.

The report shows that 40% of Kenyans are borrowing to meet everyday expenses, 54% are carrying the same or higher debt than last year, and 46% regularly overspend their budgets.

“The 2025 report paints a picture of a nation in transition. Kenyans are resilient and entrepreneurial. But without stronger support in financial literacy, savings discipline, retirement planning, and protection, this progress risks remaining short-term,” Vuyokazi Mabude, Head of Knowledge & Insights at Old Mutual, said.

The latest study focused on employed Kenyans aged 20 to 59 earning KES 12,000 or more.

It says that financial satisfaction has rebounded from its lower level in 2024 as 20–29-year-olds are even more satisfied than they were in 2023. 

Key drivers of financial well-being include a sense of comfort with one’s financial position, prudent debt management, the ability to save, and improved business performance relative to the previous year.

“What we are seeing is a shift from passive financial behaviour to active financial intent. Kenyans are working harder and setting goals, but they need the right tools, advice, and protection to translate this resilience into long-term financial security,” said Dr. Tabitha Njuguna, Strathmore University Business School, Faculty Member, during a panel session.

Those reporting financial dissatisfaction cited the high cost of living, incomes insufficient to meet expenses, difficulty in securing better-paying opportunities, and limited capital to expand their businesses.

The survey reveals that financial satisfaction rose from 5.2 out of 10 in 2024 to 5.9 in 2025, with 70 per cent of respondents expecting their financial situation to improve over the next six months on account of improved macro-environment.

The Old Mutual Financial Wellness Monitor offers detailed insight into behaviour and sentiment, from day-to-day money decisions and risk management to the pursuit of long-term financial goals, as individuals navigate their path towards financial well-being.

Financial Priorities

The report noted that income security continues to be the main financial priority for Kenyans and is even more important in 2025 than ever before.

Other priorities include cutting expenses, ensuring investments are safe, lower risk, being able to pay off debt, and building financial buffers or emergency funds, among others.

The study found that 26% are juggling multiple jobs or doing part-time jobs (Poly-Jobbers), which is an increase from the 20% reported in 2024.

However, this was skewed towards more affluent consumers. 25% of polyjobbers say that the income from their side jobs is more than from their main job.

Sandwich generation

The study found that 46% of working Kenyans are part of the sandwich generation, supporting children as well as adults.

The financially supported adults mostly include parents (79%) and siblings (49%). Adult dependents have increased by 4 percentage points in 2025.

Those falling behind on rent increased from 17% to 25%, while those who dipped into savings to make ends meet increased from 35% to 40%. In addition, those who fell behind in house bills increased from 27% to 28%. 

The Monitor found that 40 per cent of the population has taken out a loan for day-to-day expenses, with mobile loans continuing to be the most widely used form of credit, followed by personal loans from Chamas.

Over half (53%) of consumers have enough savings to last them for 3 months or more and this has increased by 9 percentage points since 2024.

However, this means that 4 in 10 are vulnerable to running out of funds in less than 3 months, without an income.

Analyst Herman Manyora charged in Ksh.516,000 Nairobi Hospital tender scam

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Political analyst Herman Manyora has been charged with cheating in an alleged Sh516,000 tender scheme linked to Nairobi Hospital. 

He appeared before Senior Principal Magistrate Paul Mutai at the Milimani Law Courts, where he denied the charge of cheating contrary to Section 315 of the Penal Code.

 According to the prosecution, the offence is alleged to have occurred between August 15 and October 30, 2024, within Nairobi County.

 The court heard that Manyora allegedly obtained Sh516,000 from Josephine Luceno Kavulani by claiming he would help secure the award of Tender No. TNH/ITB/016/24/ENGINEERING at Nairobi Hospital to her company, Sipho Construction Limited. 

Prosecutors told the court that the complainant was induced to part with the money based on the alleged misrepresentation, and would not have done so had she known the claims were false. 

Through his lawyer Danstan Omari ,SC Nelson Havi, Manyora sought to be released on bond, arguing that he is not a flight risk and had complied with all summons issued by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations. 

The prosecution did not oppose the application but left the terms of release to the court’s discretion.

 In granting bond, Magistrate Mutai noted that the accused had earlier been released on a personal bond by police and had complied with the conditions.

 “I have considered the application and note the prosecution is not opposed. The accused has previously complied with bond terms,” the magistrate ruled. 

Manyora was released on a personal bond of Sh2 million with two contact persons. The case will be mentioned on April 13, 2026, for further directions.

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