Summary Of The Daily Nation Newspaper -Sept 01,2025
Page 1: Reports indicate a resurgence of fraudulent schemes targeting public funds, as authorities admit rogue hospitals attempted to steal Sh10 billion from the Social Health Authority. This scandal echoes past looting through payments to ghost government employees and fictitious schools that pocketed billions in salaries and capitation funds. Further audits have uncovered additional theft through inflated student enrolment figures and fraudulent claims from fake hospitals under state medical schemes.
Page 2: Reports by the Auditor-General and Controller of Budget detail the recurring theft of billions of shillings through salaries for ghost workers, capitation to non-existent schools, and reimbursements to fake hospitals. Despite existing financial safeguards, authorities have identified and closed over 1,000 fraudulent health facilities attempting to steal from the Social Health Authority using schemes like multiple billing and ghost patients. The government has vowed to prosecute these cases and force the refund of any fraudulently acquired funds.
Page 3: Reports indicate that Kiambu politician Gladys Chania, recently released on bail after being charged with her husband’s murder, is now engaged in a new dispute with the Salvation Army Church over control of its assets. Chania and a farmhand were arrested for the murder of her husband, George Mwangi, after evidence was discovered in their home. The case has seen developments including a former farmhand becoming a state witness and a separate legal matter over unpaid legal fees.
Page 4: Reports indicate that governors are holding an emergency meeting to address a stalemate over hiring 7,414 medics and a new e-procurement system that has stalled county budgets. They are refusing to absorb the health workers without the Sh7.7 billion in funding from the national government and oppose the mandatory e-GP system, which they claim paralyzes operations and hinders service delivery. The Council of Governors has demanded the Treasury lift these administrative blocks or face legal action.
Page 5: Reports detail a new bill proposing severe penalties for healthcare facilities that fail to meet patient safety and quality standards, including fines of up to Sh650 million and jail terms of up to 10 years for owners. The proposed law seeks to establish the Quality Health Care and Patient Safety Authority and will require annual audits of patient safety measures. It also mandates that health facilities strictly adhere to their licensed activities and maintain professional indemnity insurance.
Page 6: Reports indicate President William Ruto is reviving his 2022 “hustler” narrative to reconnect with voters ahead of the 2027 election through cash handouts, empowerment programs, and meetings with grassroots mobilizers. His administration is fast-tracking projects like modern markets and affordable housing, while the Deputy President is leading a blitz to cover all 290 constituencies by next year. Analysts warn, however, that this strategy may be less effective unless the political opposition is divided.
Page 7: Reports indicate former Interior Minister Fred Matiang’i is crafting a 2027 presidential bid, positioning himself as a reformist alternative to President Ruto’s administration. He is campaigning on an anti-corruption platform, accusing the current government of gluttony and economic mismanagement, and promises to restore integrity, fix the economy, and invest in human capital. His strategy includes mobilizing youth voters and offering a “People’s Economic Compact” as an alternative to what he calls the current “heist culture.”
Page 8: Reports indicate that authorities are racing to meet an October deadline to recruit 10,000 new police officers, but the process is threatened by internal divisions and turf wars within the National Police Service Commission. The budget for the recruitment has not been allocated due to these incessant wrangles, escalating the situation to a crisis level. The newly appointed commission chairperson, Dr. Amani Komora, is now under pressure to broker a truce and oversee the exercise to ensure the recruits can report to college on time.
Page 10: Reports detail how a trafficking network named Magafe is exploiting desperate Somalis, like 19-year-old Mohammed Abdullahi, who dream of reaching Europe for a better life. The network, which operates in Sudan and Libya, preys on young people who are inspired by stories of relatives who successfully emigrated and achieved financial transformation. These traffickers and hostage-takers capitalize on the widespread desire to escape hardship in East Africa.
Page 12: Reports illustrate how young teachers in Kenya, like David Kanyoro, are using AI tools such as ChatGPT to confidently teach subjects they were never trained in, transforming their classrooms. These educators rely on AI to generate structured lesson plans and simplify complex topics, moving from panic to proficiency and earning student admiration. The integration of technology has also fostered collaborative learning among students, who teach each other during dedicated “Digital Hour” sessions.
Page 19: Reports indicate that the National Environment Management Authority (Nema) has shut down Veinrock Gold Limited in Nandi County for operating without valid licenses and using highly hazardous chemicals that pose serious health and environmental risks. The company has been extracting gold without an Environmental Impact Assessment license or proper documentation for its chemicals, and it lacks an effluent discharge license, risking pollution of local water sources used by schools and communities. Nema has warned of severe fines and cleanup costs, while local landowners have raised alarms about the threat to human health and environmental safety.
Page 20: Reports detail the anguish of families like Hussein Choya’s, whose brother was forcibly taken by police in 2013 and remains missing, emblematic of hundreds of enforced disappearances in Kenya. These families are demanding the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions compel police to produce their loved ones, dead or alive, accusing security agencies of operating with impunity. Their calls for justice and accountability coincide with government efforts to compensate victims of recent police brutality, though activists argue this must also address historical cases of abduction and execution.
Page 22: Reports reveal a post-war plan circulating within the Trump administration that proposes the US administer Gaza for at least a decade, including the temporary relocation of its population and rebuilding the enclave as a tourist and manufacturing hub. The controversial proposal, developed by the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, would offer financial incentives for Palestinians to leave and use “digital tokens” to exchange property rights. This plan has drawn criticism amid reports of over 1,000 aid-seeking fatalities since the foundation began operations, with most deaths attributed to Israeli forces.
Page 23: Reports indicate that private investors are holding back on new residential projects due to persistent concerns over the government’s affordable housing programme, causing a significant drop in construction approvals. Data shows the value of approved residential building plans in Nairobi alone fell by Sh22.7 billion in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period last year. While non-residential approvals saw an increase, the overall decline highlights investor jitters and a slowdown in financing for residential housing.
Page 41: Reports indicate that the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) men’s basketball team leveled their semi-final playoff series against Ulinzi Warriors 2-2 with a narrow 63-62 victory in Game Four. In the women’s division, KPA eliminated defending champions Equity Bank by winning their semi-final series 3-1 after a decisive 71-48 victory. The KPA men will now face Ulinzi Warriors in a decisive Game Five to determine who advances to the finals.
Page 44: Reports indicate that Morocco’s coach Tarik Sektioui credits his team’s dominance in African football to strong government support, world-class infrastructure, and effective development structures. He also praised Kenyan fans for their warm welcome and enthusiastic support during the 2024 African Nations Championship, which contributed to Morocco’s unprecedented third title win. The victory marks another significant achievement for Sektioui, who recently led the team to an Olympic bronze medal and a CAF Confederation Cup title.