Summary Of The Daily Nation Newspaper -Aug 30,2025
Page 1: Reports on the finalized assessment plan for Grade 9 learners marking the end of Junior School under the new curriculum. The evaluation will combine a variety of methods, including school-based projects, written tests commencing in October, multiple-choice questions, and short structured tests. Furthermore, the assessment will be comprehensive, covering essays across nine different learning areas.
Page 2: Reports that artistes performing at the African Nations Championship (CHAN) are set to earn millions in performance fees from financially powerful organizers like CAF. A booking agent revealed that such tournaments are goldmines for performers, with Ugandan star Eddy Kenzo cited as a top earner due to his experience and status. The actual payout figures are kept confidential in contracts but are described as hefty.
Page 3: Reports on the historic conclusion of the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Nairobi, where Madagascar faces Morocco in the final. Despite Kenya’s early exit from the tournament, the event is noted as a significant achievement for the host nation, marking its first major continental football showpiece in 38 years. The article also mentions that the Local Organising Committee denied allegations of state bureaucrats hoarding tickets for the event.
Page 4: Reports on the shocking testimonies presented to a parliamentary health committee, detailing the deceptive practices of an illicit kidney trade in Eldoret. A 23-year-old man described being lured with money, given a forged identity to pose as a foreigner, and suffering severe health complications after the operation. His mother appealed to the government for justice, stating the procedure had ruined her son’s health and their lives.
Page 5: Reports on Siaya Governor James Orengo’s plans to leverage key sectors like agriculture, ICT, mining, and the blue economy to attract investors at the upcoming Siaya Investment and Trade Conference. The event, the first of its kind since devolution began, aims to position the county as a prime investment destination for transformative growth. President William Ruto and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga are expected to attend as chief guests to help unlock these opportunities.
Page 6: Reports on a clash at Karura Forest between casual labourers, community officials, and Kenya Forest Service (KFS) officers over the agency’s sudden takeover of revenue collection. The dispute centers on an estimated Sh20 million collected monthly by the Friends of Karura Forest (FKF), which KFS now demands be processed through the government’s e-Citizen platform. The FKF has rejected this move, warning it is unlawful, betrays public trust, and will dismantle the successful joint management plan that transformed the forest.
Page 7: Reports on the structure of the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) for Grade Nine, which combines school-based projects and written tests. The written assessments, beginning in October, will include multiple-choice questions, short-structured questions, and essays across nine learning areas. The final grade, which determines placement in senior school, will be a composite of 60% from the KJSEA and 40% from previous assessments.
Page 10: Reports that an audit of 21 donor-funded projects has revealed Sh3.7 billion was irregularly spent due to non-compliance with procurement laws. Auditor General Nancy Gathungu’s report details that the irregularities stemmed from non-adherence to approved plans, irregular contract variations, and the use of direct procurement without proper justification. Specific cases cited include a Kenya electricity expansion project with unlawful variations and a Horn of Africa project where consultants were single-sourced in breach of regulations.
Page 11: Reports on the ambitious 1970s real-estate vision for Nairobi’s eastern estates like Donholm and Tena, which were designed as planned middle-income neighborhoods with full amenities. The project was spearheaded by Israeli engineer Joseph Goldberger and backed by influential political figures, aiming to create dignified communities for civil servants. However, the vision ultimately unravelled due to financial malfeasance, symbolized by three lost cheques worth Sh50 million, leading to the area’s current state of urban disorder.
Page 12: Reports that the US and Panama have proposed replacing the Kenya-led peacekeeping mission in Haiti with a new international Gang Suppression Force (GSF). The proposed force of 5,500 officers aims to combat gangs led by Jimmy Cherizier “Barbecue” and restore stability to the country, where over 1.3 million people are displaced. While acknowledging Kenya’s critical role in the initial mission, the UN Secretary-General has urged the Security Council to quickly authorize this new UN-backed force with predictable funding.
Page 22: Reports that Kenyan researchers are launching a pilot project to trial a five-dose MR vaccine in an effort to improve measles-rubella immunization coverage. The initiative addresses the longstanding issue of children being turned away from health facilities when fewer than ten are present to justify opening a standard multi-dose vial. This switch aims to reduce vaccine wastage and ensure more children can access the life-saving immunization against the highly contagious disease.
Page 24: Reports that over 500 UN human rights staff have written to High Commissioner Volker Türk, urging him to formally describe the situation in Gaza as an unfolding genocide, citing the scale of documented violations. The letter references the UN’s perceived failure during the 1994 Rwanda genocide and warns that inaction now undermines the credibility of the entire human rights system. In response, the UN maintains that only a competent legal authority can legally determine genocide, while Israel rejects the accusations as baseless and motivated by hatred.
Page 25: Reports that foreign workers in Kenya remitted a record Sh91.84 billion to their home countries in the year ending December 2024, marking the fifth consecutive year of growth in outflows. The Central Bank of Kenya noted that most transfers were sent to East African nations via digital channels and formal remittance providers, highlighting the ease and speed of these transactions. This trend contrasts with the growing number of Kenyans leaving for opportunities abroad, as diaspora remittances into Kenya simultaneously reached a record Sh440.18 billion.
Page 26: Reports that Britam Holdings‘ net profit for the first half of 2025 decreased by 13.6% to Sh1.74 billion, despite an increase in insurance revenue to Sh19.69 billion. The decline was attributed to a significant surge in claims payouts and reinsurance expenses, which cut the net insurance service result by 39%. While net investment income grew by 30.2%, this performance was markedly weaker than the previous year’s growth, pressured by a declining yield curve.
Page 29: Reports on the struggles of a single mother, Emily Chepngeno, who earns Sh50 per day picking tea in Kericho to support her family and pay school fees for her three children. Her 17-year-old son, Dennis Kipkoech, describes how poverty and hunger severely challenged his education and led him to despair. Due to the meager income, the eldest daughter had to postpone her university dreams so the family could focus on funding her brother’s high school education first.
Page 30: Reports that Harambee Stars midfielder Boniface Muchiri plans to use his Sh5 million reward from the CHAN tournament to build a house for his mother in Busia. He described his mother, Mildred Akinyi, as a lifelong pillar of support who bought him his first football boots and encouraged his career from its earliest stages. The 29-year-old soldier, who was also promoted in the Kenya Defence Forces for his performance, aims to honor her sacrifices by providing a decent two-bedroom home.