Nairobi News Brief - 14th Jan 2026

Top stories from Kenya today:-

GOVERNMENT & POLITICS

ODM & UDA begin coalition talks for 2027 elections; ODM insists on DP slot in any deal.

Ruto restructures campaign to weaken regional kingpins (Mudavadi, Wetang’ula, etc.) and build direct grassroots networks.

ODM’s influence waning, Odinga family faces internal dissent; Winnie Odinga challenges uncle Oburu’s leadership.

ECONOMY & PRIVATISATION

Safaricom stake sale: MPs grill Treasury over Sh204bn deal; CS Mbadi assures funds ring-fenced for infrastructure, no job losses for 3 years.

Sh39bn legal fees scandal: State agencies spent billions on private lawyers despite having in-house counsel; court halts practice temporarily.

World Bank’s Sh5bn “Nyota Fund” used by Ruto to woo youth amid post-GenZ protest charm offensive.

EDUCATION

Grade 10 reporting begins: 118,000 of 1.3 million learners enrolled on Day 1; gov’t says no student will be left behind.

University funding crisis looms as record 270,715 KCSE qualifiers strain HELB and public universities.

School uniform cartels exposed—parents forced to pay inflated prices, sometimes double market rates

JUDICIARY & JUSTICE

JSC regains power to discipline judges after suspension of High Court order lifted.

Independent commission workers threaten strike over exclusion from salary reviews.

2027 ELECTION WATCH

Ruto’s Mt Kenya support shaky: Allies keep distance; grassroots mobilisation replaces organic crowds.

Gachagua asserts “opposition king” role, causing friction with Kalonzo, Karua, Matiang’i.

Ruto’s new campaign squad targets Western, Nyanza, Coast with fresh faces to bypass established leaders.

IN OTHER NEWS

LSK elections highlight historic tension between lawyers’ professional duty and political resistance.

📌 Sources: Parliament hearings, Treasury documents, Ministry of Education, local dailies.

💬 Discuss: Is the ODM–UDA coalition good for Kenya’s democracy?