Radio Fortune Africa -Ukweli na Burudani
https://zeno.fm/radio/radio-fortune-africa
By Cantona Joseph Published on: March 25, 2026 06:07 (EAT)
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja appears before the Senate Committee on Land, Environment and Natural Resources on March 24, 2026. Photo/Sakaja
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has come under scrutiny for appointing seven advisors in his county government, roles that the Senate says overlap with the functions of County Executive Committee members.
This emerged during a session of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee, which was meeting officials from Nairobi County to interrogate the Office of the Auditor-General Kenya’s report for the 2024/2025 financial year.
Committee Chair Moses Kajwang’ questioned the need for the advisors, arguing that governors should rely on established county structures instead of outsourcing core functions.
“In this report, it emerges that the Nairobi Governor has advisors for every other docket where there’s a CEC and a chief officer. He’s got seven advisors to advise on things that would be handled by the substantive CECs and chief officers,” he stated.
“Sometimes you ask yourself, by the time someone decides to become a governor, they should understand the challenge before them rather than outsourcing their functions to advisors.”
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, a member of the committee, echoed the concerns and questioned the cost of maintaining the advisors amid the county’s financial strain.
“The advisors, on average, earn Ksh.203,000 each and therefore the extra advisors earned a total of Ksh.9.7 million; this is not pocket change,” he noted.
The governor failed to appear before the committee, prompting Kajwang’ to warn that continued absence by summoned governors could lead to adverse action.
He added that the committee would treat findings by oversight agencies as factual if the governors fail to appear and provide explanations.
“We will hand over the files to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission. IEBC has a responsibility to ensure that persons running for office are persons who don’t have integrity issues or have ongoing investigations against them,” Kajwang’ pointed out.
“Just reminding the governors summoned that this is the last opportunity to come and explain yourselves and if you fail to do so, whatever irregularities or illegalities or violations of the law reported by the AG, we’ll take it as the truth and will demand action.”
Sakaja’s administration has also faced public backlash following recent flooding that left 69 people dead and hundreds displaced across the city.
The governor has further come under pressure over an Ksh.80 billion cooperation agreement with the national government aimed at improving Nairobi’s infrastructure and services.
While Sakaja has maintained that the deal is not a takeover similar to the defunct Nairobi Metropolitan Services, critics have raised concerns about the speed of its approval and the lack of meaningful public participation.
In a recent interview, Sakaja dismissed calls for his resignation, stating that he is prepared to make tough decisions to transform the county, even as questions persist over whether the measures are coming too late.
High Court rejects bid to halt registration of COTU officials
File image of a judge’s gavel. PHOTO|COURTESY
Audio By Vocalize
The High Court has declined to grant interim orders in a case challenging the registration of officials of the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Kenya) (COTU).
The case was filed by Fazul Mahamed and the Institute for Democratic Governance against the Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Protection, the State Department of Labour, and eight other respondents, among them COTU SG Francis Atwoli.
The petitioners had asked the court to issue temporary orders, but the judge said there was already proof that the elected officials of COTU had been registered.
The judge added that the requested orders were no longer necessary.
The court, however, directed the third respondent to provide a certified copy of the COTU constitution within seven days.
Both the petitioners and respondents were instructed to submit their written arguments within 21 days. The case will be mentioned again on 12th May 2026.
Our youth are not hecklers, goons for hire – DP Kindiki says
By DPCS Published on: March 25, 2026 05:37 (EAT)
DP Kithure Kindiki at Alliance High Grounds, Kikuyu Constituency, Kiambu County, on March 25, 2026. PHOTO | DPCS
Audio By Vocalize
Deputy President Prof. Kithure Kindiki has said the culture of hiring youth to heckle political opponents must end, stressing that young people are a huge resource to advance the country’s development.
Prof. Kindiki said some opposition leaders are exploiting the youth for their own political interests including issuing them handouts to attack their rivals without offering them better sources of livelihoods.
“They give them 100 shillings to heckle their opponents in rallies. They are happy to incite them to attack their rivals. They pay them to insult their opponents on social media. They see them as voting machines. They have absolutely nothing to improve their lives. They are visionless and plan-less,” the DP noted.
He spoke on Wednesday at Alliance High Grounds, Kikuyu Constituency, Kiambu County when he graced the graduation of 1,880 young people who were sponsored by the Kikuyu NG-CDF for vocational training in various fields.
Gov’t to pay only verified coffee farmers’ debts: CS Oparanya says
Cooperatives and MSMEs CS Wycliffe Oparanya speaks at Kiriti Stadium in Mukurweini Constituency, Nyeri County, during a meeting with coffee farmers on March 25, 2026. PHOTO | COURTESY
Audio By Vocalize
Cooperatives and MSMEs Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya has announced that the government will only pay verified and audited debts owed by coffee cooperative societies across the country, as part of ongoing reforms in the sector.
CS Oparanya revealed that a comprehensive audit of coffee societies’ liabilities established that only Ksh.6.2 billion out of the claimed debts is legitimate and eligible for settlement. He cautioned that any debts not captured in the verified audit will not be honoured by the government.
“Any cooperative society whose debt is not reflected in the audited report will have to resolve those obligations internally, through their management committees and farmers,” he said.
Speaking at Karuri Grounds during a meeting with coffee farmers, the CS confirmed that the government has already begun settling the verified debts, with Ksh.2 billion set aside in the initial phase of payments.
At the same time, Oparanya underscored that broader coffee sector reforms are aimed at improving both quality and efficiency.
He announced a policy shift that will bar cooperative societies from procuring their own milling machines.
Instead, milling services will be centralised under the Kenya Planters Cooperative Union (KPCU), which will offer the services at more affordable rates.
He also highlighted the role of the government-backed cherry fund, noting that it is already enabling faster payments to farmers, within five days of delivery.
Additionally, the fund is expected to provide farmers with access to low-interest credit, reducing reliance on commercial bank loans that often prove costly.
The reforms form part of the government’s broader strategy to streamline operations in the coffee value chain, enhance farmer earnings, and restore the sector’s productivity.
Court shown photos, videos linking suspect in Rex Masai shooting case
Rex Masai
Audio By Vocalize
The court on Wednesday heard that forensic investigators analysed photographs, videos and CCTV footage said to place a key suspect at the scene where Rex Masai was fatally shot during protests in Nairobi on June 20, 2024.
Joshua Mutua, a crime scene investigator attached to the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), testified that he reviewed 36 photographs and two video clips linked to the incident.
In his testimony, Mutua said the material captures a man of brown complexion dressed in a cap and blue shirt, and wearing bracelets in the colours of the Kenyan flag, while carrying what appeared to be police communication devices and a riot baton.
He told the court that the man seen in the photographs is the same individual appearing in the videos, which show scenes from the Occupy Parliament demonstrations as well as police officers dispersing protesters near a Land Cruiser mounted with a tear gas launcher.
According to the investigator, the images shown to the court are previous pictures allegedly depicting Police Constable Isaiah Murangiri.
The prosecution also relied on CCTV footage from Absa Bank, recorded between 6:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., which investigators say helps reconstruct the events leading up to the shooting.
The investigator is expected to submit a formal forensic report dated July 15, 2025, cementing the link between the suspect and the scene.
Relief for motorists as KeNHA reopens Globe Roundabout on Thika Superhighway
Screengrab from a drone footage of the Globe Roundabout.
Audio By Vocalize
Motorists using the Thika Superhighway can now breathe a sigh of relief after the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) restored normal traffic flow at Globe Roundabout following a temporary closure.
In a public notice dated March 25, 2026, KeNHA confirmed that movement along the section has resumed after the completion of reinstatement works at the Nairobi River Bridge.
“The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) wishes to notify motorists and the public that traffic flow at Globe Roundabout along Thika Superhighway (A2) has been restored. Motorists can now resume normal travel along this section,” said KeNHA Director General Luka Kimeli.
The closure, which took effect on March 12, had disrupted movement between the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD), Kipande Road and Thika Superhighway as engineers undertook restoration works on the bridge.
During the one-week period, KeNHA implemented several traffic diversions to ease congestion within the affected corridor.
Motorists travelling from Thika towards the CBD were redirected to use the Globe Overpass, while those heading towards University Way were diverted through Prof. Wangari Maathai Road.
Traffic from Kipande Road was rerouted via Limuru Road at Fig Tree before reconnecting to Prof. Wangari Maathai Road, as authorities sought to manage flow around the busy junction.
The authority consequently expressed its gratitude to the public for their cooperation during the disruption period.
“KeNHA appreciates the cooperation, patience, and understanding demonstrated by motorists and residents during this period,” read the statement.
Court of Appeal rejects ARA’s bid to freeze Sonko’s millions
File image of former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko. PHOTO| COURTESY
The Court of Appeal has dismissed an application for a stay of execution of the High Court judgment, in which the Assets Recovery Agency (ARA) sought to freeze funds linked to former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko pending the hearing and determination of an appeal.
The Assets Recovery Agency was seeking to have the Court of Appeal judges pause the High Court’s earlier decision that dismissed its case and declined to forfeit Sonko’s money to the State. However, the Court of Appeal found a fundamental flaw in that request.
In its ruling, however, the court found that the High Court judgment of October 1, 2025, merely dismissed the suit against Sonko and did not direct any party to take action or refrain from doing so.
The judges made it clear that you cannot “pause” a judgment that does not order anything to be done.
In rejecting the application, the Court also questioned the applicant’s reliance on Section 97 of the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act (POCAMLA), observing that if the provision automatically preserved the orders in question, then the application for stay would have been unnecessary.
Citing long-standing legal precedent, the court emphasised that a dismissed case is a “negative order.” It further noted that negative orders cannot be stayed and that the only enforceable aspect would be costs, not the substance of the case.
Consequently, the Notice of Motion dated January 22, 2026, was found to lack merit.
US Secretary of State Rubio thanks President Ruto for condemning Iran missile strikes
President William Ruto hosts leaders of the Methodist Church in Kenya at State House, Nairobi, on February 20, 2026. Photo/PCS
Audio By Vocalize
President William Ruto on Tuesday held talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to discuss bilateral cooperation and regional security issues.
According to a communiqué issued by the US Department of State, Secretary Rubio thanked President Ruto for his public condemnation of Iranian aggression against Gulf States.
The discussions also touched on the objectives of Operation Epic Fury, a joint U.S.–Israel military operation targeting Iran.
“He (Rubio) also expressed his gratitude for Kenya’s significant contributions to peace and security in Haiti and Kenya’s commitment to ensuring a smooth transition to the Gang Suppression Force,” the US Department of State added.
“The Secretary and President Ruto also discussed commercial opportunities and how to further strengthen our enduring partnership.”
Earlier in March 2026, President Ruto condemned Iranian missile strikes targeting several Gulf countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman, Kuwait, Jordan, and Bahrain. However, his remarks triggered criticism at home, with some observers arguing that the stance lacked balance, potentially undermining Kenya’s traditional diplomatic neutrality and risking unnecessary strain in its foreign relations.
afghanistan, africa, albania, algeria, America, american-samoa, andorra, angola, anguilla, antarctica, antigua-and-barbuda, argentina, armenia, aruba, arusha, australia, austria, azerbaijan, bahamas, bahrain, bangladesh, barbados, belarus, Belgium, belize, benin, bermuda, bhutan, bolivia, bosnia-and-herzegovina, botswana, Boukinafaso, brazil, brunei-darussalam, bulgaria, burkina-faso, burma, burundi, california, cambodia, cameroon, canada, cape-verde, cayman-islands, central-african-republic, Chad, chicago, chile, china, christmas-island, cocos-keeling-islands, colombia, comoros, congo, cook-islands, costa-rica, cote-divoire-ivory-coast, Croatia, cuba, cyprus, czech-republic, darsalaam, democratic-peoples-rep-north-korea, democratic-republic-of-the-congo-kinshasa, denmark, djibouti, dodoma, dominica, dominican-republic, dr-congo, dubai, east-timor-timor-leste, ecuador, egypt, egypty, el-salvador, england, equatorial-guinea, equitorial-guinea, eritrea, estonia, eswatini, ethiopia, falkland-islands, faroe-islands, federal-states-of-moldova, fiji, finland, Florida, france, french-guiana, french-polynesia, french-southern-territories, gabon, gaza, georgia, germany, ghana, gibraltar, goma, Greece, greenland, grenada, guadeloupe, guam, guatemala, guinea, guinea-bissau, guyana, habari, haiti, holy-see, honduras, hong-kong, houston, hungary, iceland, india, indonesia, Iowa, iran, iran-islamic-republic-of, iraq, ireland, israel, italia, italy, ivory-coast, jamaica, japan, jordan, karatu, kazakhstan, kilimanjaro, kinshasa, kiribati, kiswahili, korea, kosovo, kuwait, kyrgyzstan, lao, latvia-lebanon-lesotho-liberia-libya-liechtenstein-lithuania-luxembourg, Lebanon, liberia, macau, madagascar, malawi, malaysia-maldives, Mali, malta, marshall-islands-martinique-mauritania-mauritius, massechutes, mayotte, mazingira, mbeya, meru, mexico, miami, micronesia, monaco-mongolia-montenegro, montserrat, morocco, mozambique-myanmar, mtwara, mwanza, namibia, nauru, nepal, netherlands, netherlands-antilles, nevada, new-caledonia, new-zealand, newyork, nicaragua, niger, nigeria, niue, north-macedonia, northern-mariana-islands, norway, oman, pakistan, palau, palestine, palestinian-territories, panama, papua-new-guinea, paraguay, peoples-democratic-republic, peru, philadhephia, philipians, Philippines, pitcairn-island, poland, politics, Portugal, puerto-rico, qatar, Norrbottens lan, republic-of-brazzaville, republic-of-south-korea, reunion-island, romania, Russia, russian-federation, rwanda, sahara-occidental, saint-kitts-and-nevis, saint-lucia, saint-vincent-and-the-grenadines, samoa, san-marino, sao-tome-and-principe, saudi-arabia, saudiarabia, scotland, Senegal, serbia, seychelles, sierra-leone, Singapore, singida, slovakia-slovak-republic, slovenia, solomon-islands, somalia, southafrica, spain, sri-lanka, sudan, suriname, swaziland-eswatini, sweden, switzerland, syria, syrian-arab-republic, tabora, taiwan-republic-of-china, tajikistan, tanzania, texas, thailand, the-gambia, tibet, timor-leste-east-timor, togo, tokelau, tonga, toronto, trinidad-and-tobago, tunisia, turkey, turkmenistan, turks-and-caicos-islands, tuvalu, uganda, united-arabs-emirates, united-kingdom, united-states, uruguay, uzbekistan, vancover, vanuatu, vatican-city-state-holy-see, venezuela, vietnam, virgin-islands-british, virgin-islands-u-s, wallis-and-futuna-islands
All Rights Reserved © The Cantona Group PLC||2026
.
CantonaDigital
-” Where Media Meets Moments”
-Be ready to be Impacted,Inspired & Empowered.
All Rights Reserved © The Cantona Group PLC||2025
Keep watching our Channels
CantonaCast Television,
Fortune Television Network (FTN)
Listen Live on-line Radio Fortune Africa
Ukweli Na Burudani.
An attitude determines an altitude.
All Rights Reserved|© The Cantona Group PLC
Fediverse Followers
Discover more from cantonadigital
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.