The Department of Health and Sanitation in Turkana County has trained over 40 sub-county health vaccine depot managers on vaccine management in ongoing measures to ensure the region is free from vaccine-preventable diseases. The exercise was facilitated by the county government and supported by the National Vaccination Program on Immunisation and United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS). Speaking at the meeting, Acting Director for Preventive and Promotive Health Services Lucas Edete stressed the need for the health team to assess areas of improvement to increase the uptake of vaccines in Turkana.
Ndia MP George Kariuki, who chairs the Transport and Infrastructure Committee in Parliament, has directed contractors to immediately fill and secure abandoned quarry sites to prevent further loss of life. His directive follows a tragic incident in Kiandai, Ndia Constituency, where three people, including two children died after drowning in a water-filled quarry. The children had been fishing before one slipped into the deep water, prompting the other to attempt a rescue. A previous fatality had also occurred at the same site.
Kariuki (pictured), who visited the affected families and residents, expressed deep sympathy and vowed to pursue support and possible compensation from the construction company responsible for the site.
Tourism stakeholders in Mombasa credit the sharp rise in domestic and international visitor numbers to the launch of the Mombasa Commuter Railway line and the implementation of the Open Sky Policy, initiatives that continue to boost the coastal tourism sector. Hotel Sapphire General Manager John Yegon said city-centre hotels, usually quiet during Christmas as guests prefer beach resorts, are now experiencing increased bookings following the completion of the Sh6 billion Mombasa Island–Miritini MGR line and the rehabilitation of the nearby Mombasa MGR station.The surge in holiday travel has also prompted Kenya Railways to introduce an additional Madaraka Express service between Nairobi and Mombasa from December 8, 2025, to January 5, 2026. Mombasa County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Tourism, Culture and Trade, Mohamed Osman, lauded the hotel management for reviving Mombasa’s nightlife that had been dead for years through the transformation of the hotel.
Kenya among the world’s top 10 borrowers from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), with the country ranked seventh globally with an outstanding debt of Ksh 519 billion. Globally, only six countries have larger IMF debts. Argentina leads with Ksh7.35 trillion (SDR 41.8 billion), followed by Ukraine Ksh1.82 trillion (SDR 10.3 billion), Ecuador Ksh1.22 trillion (SDR 6.93 billion), Egypt Ksh1.18 trillion (SDR 6.73 billion), Pakistan Ksh1.16 trillion (SDR 6.59 billion), and Côte d’Ivoire Ksh542.7 billion (SDR 3.08 billion). In Africa, Kenya ranks third after Egypt and Côte d’Ivoire. Other major regional economies trail behind, including Angola at Ksh468 billion (SDR 2.66 billion), Ghana Ksh454.8 billion (SDR 2.58 billion), Ethiopia Ksh280.4 billion (SDR 1.59 billion), and neighboring Tanzania Ksh235 billion (SDR 1.33 billion).
The government is moving to expand passport services across Nairobi and several counties in an effort to ease the long-standing congestion at Nyayo House. The Interior Ministry has proposed establishing new application centres in Westlands, Upper Hill, Makadara, Kiserian, Athi River, and Thika to handle the rising demand for passports. Further decentralisation is also planned, with additional centres in Malindi, Voi, Kwale, Isiolo, Machakos, Lodwar, Narok, and Siaya.
John Kamau