Newspapers on Saturday, December 27, highlighted various topics, including the storm within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) that has involved former president Uhuru Kenyatta and his successor William Ruto.
Elsewhere, newspapers reported on a tender to repair State House Road, which will cost the common man a lot.
Source: UGC
1. Nation Today
The newspaper reported on the bid to repair State House Road.
According to Taifa Today, the government plans to repair the State House Road in Nairobi at a cost of 1.6 billion shillings.
Details contained in the tender notice issued on December 19 listed the works intended to be part of 92 road rehabilitation projects across the country.
The government has estimated that the projects will cost around 15.6 billion shillings in total.
The document, signed by the Deputy Director of the Urban Roads Authority (KURA), describes the tender as a measure to improve the quality of the Ikullu Road.
“The road is very important as it connects the CBD to important places such as the State House and nearby government offices,” read part of it.
The police have often had to increase security and prevent people from reaching the area especially during protests such as Gen-Z 2024 against the Finance Bill.
In October this year, a GSU officer guarding the State House was killed when a citizen shot him with an arrow near the gate, which raised concerns about security in the area.
Apart from the State House Road, another tender listed as costing more than 1 billion shillings is the construction of Chelimo Road in Kericho Town at an estimated cost of 1.1 billion shillings.
All projects will be funded by the Government of Kenya under KURA.
“To enhance fairness, beneficiaries will submit no more than two (2) bids, but may be awarded only one (1) bid, under this tender announcement. Those who submit more than two (2) bids will be disqualified,” the ad reads in part.
Other important road projects listed include the rehabilitation of roads in Gede-Kakuyuni in Kilifi County at a cost of 967.5 million shillings, the construction of highways in Eldoret City at a cost of 950 million shillings, and the connection of Oginga Odinga Road from Subukia to Westmall circle in Nakuru County at a cost of 850 million shillings.
Kilifi North Member of Parliament, Owen Baya, described the Kilifi projects as a step towards change in the region, saying it has been neglected for decades.
2. Saturday Nation
The newspaper reported on the storm within ODM, where factions are accusing each other of secret deals to sell the party.
President William Ruto and his successor, Uhuru Kenyattahave found themselves in a crisis.
The warring factions blame each other for allegedly selling the party to Ruto and Uhuru for the next election.
A group that supports a broad-based government claims that there is a plan to return the party to the opposition by praying for Uhuru, who is the leader of Jubilee.
However, those who reject ODM’s cooperation with the government have talked about the plan to sell the party to Ruto.
ODM currently seems to be orphaned after the death of its leader Raila Odingawho ensured its stability for the 20 years he led since its creation.
The camp opposed to the party’s alliance with Ruto includes, among others, secretary-general Edwin Sifuna, deputy leader Godfrey Osotsi and the governor of Siaya James Orengo.
The party’s friendly side with Ruto includes party leader Oburu Oginga, the national chairman Gladys Wanga and governors Abdulswamad Nassir and Simba Arati, who hold the positions of deputy leader of ODM together with the party’s election director, Junet Mohamed.
Speaking in his parliamentary constituency of Suna East, Junet, who is the minority leader in the National Assembly, claimed that Uhuru has a secret hand, as he supports some leaders who aim to destroy ODM.
The MP recounted how a leader called him at a private meeting in a hotel in Kisumu to convince him to accept the show requested by Uhuru.
Junet claimed that an unnamed leader went to him with a plan and methods to use to remove ODM from the broad-based government, citing the non-implementation of 10 points in the ODM-UDA agreement.
“He told me that Uhuru wants to help ODM and is ready to invest more than 1 billion shillings in the party so that we can win the election by uniting with the opposition. If Uhuru was strong and did not make Raila president, will he help now?” he said.
According to Junet, the leader who said he was among those who were shouting and opposing cooperation with Ruto.
Junet’s claims came a few days after Sifuna and Orengo claimed there was a plan to sell ODM to Ruto.
Osotsipia had insisted that ODM would not support Ruto if their agreement with UDA was not implemented.
The senator said the president has until March 2026 to show what he has done or else forget their support.
3. The Saturday Standard
The newspaper reported on airstrikes launched by the United States in Nigeria.
The United States launched a precision attack on Islamic State fighters in northwestern Nigeria on Thursday, December 25.
The administration of President Donald Trump did so following an official request from Nigerian officials.
The mission was created in retaliation for ongoing attacks in the region, particularly those targeting Christian communities, which have drawn international concern.
On his Truth Social account, Trump described the attack as a decisive response to “ISIS terrorist scum” who have been brutally attacking innocent civilians, especially Christians.
“I’ve warned these terrorists before that if they don’t stop killing Christians, there will be hell to pay, and tonight, there was that. The War Department carried out many full-scale attacks, just like the United States can do,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The US Africa Command (Africomm) confirmed the operation took place in Sokoto State, hitting several Islamic State headquarters.
Video released by the Pentagon showed at least one missile fired from a US naval vessel.
The attack followed weeks of heightened US alarm about the security situation in Nigeria.
Since the end of October, Trump has repeatedly warned of a “physical threat” to Christianity in the country, warning of possible military intervention if Nigeria fails to protect its Christian population.
Intelligence trips to Nigeria are reported to have been underway since late November to assist in the planning.
Nigeria’s Foreign Minister, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, stressed that the attack was part of a broader security partnership with Washington, including intelligence sharing and coordinated strategies against refugee groups.
He added that these joint efforts have enabled a more accurate direction of the insurgents’ residence in the northwest.
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