On Friday, April 17, Kenyan newspapers explored the tension between the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The dailies also exposed the alleged sugar scandal, where unfit industrial grade sugar is suspected to be released in the market.
Source: UGC
1. Daily Nation
The publication revealed that the coalition talks between the President’s UDA William Ruto and ODM have been suspended after a meeting of ODM’s main decision-making body.
ODM’s Central Management Committee chose to focus on popularizing the group before holding any talks on the 2027 elections, increasing political tension between the two parties under the wider government.
ODM party leader Oburu Oginga presided over the nearly seven-hour meeting, which was described by sources as very tense and volatile as top officials publicly expressed their anger over what they described as a deliberate plot to weaken the party.
As a result, the party instructed its members to stop campaigning for Ruto’s re-election until the issues are addressed.
To resolve the concern, Oburu, the national chairman Gladys Wangaand deputy co-leader of the party Simba Arati were given the task of calling an emergency meeting by President Ruto.
“Our target now is ODM. We will not participate in coalition talks with people who do not respect us and our party,” a senior official said.
2. The Standard
The Mombasa Sugar Refinery and the Kibos Sugar Company allegedly closed and sold a KSh 3 billion shipment of industrial sugar, intended for industry, for domestic consumption, allowing it to enter the food chain in the country.
Documents show that the sugar was imported as an industrial raw material but later diverted and sealed for household sales, thus causing a risk to public health and causing a loss of revenue to the government.
Insiders claim that senior civil servants have protected those behind the scheme, allowing the unsafe product to reach the market while the authorities ignored it.
Kenyan businesses use industrial sugar to make soda and other sweet products.
In its raw form, sugar contains impurities that cleaning is intended to remove, including wax, dirt particles, cane fibers, and microbial residues that can cause serious health risks if consumed directly.
Such sugar is legally restricted for industrial processing, meaning it must undergo further refinement before it is considered safe for human consumption.
3. The Star
Ol Kalou’s upcoming political contest is more than just a by-election.
Instead, you reveal a larger struggle for control of Mount Kenya, which may ultimately benefit President Ruto.
The opposition political parties have shown an urgent desire to fill the gap caused by the death of MP David Kiaraho, while the DCP of Rigathi Gachagua and Uhuru Kenyatta’s Jubilee Party all showing plans to field candidates.
Gachagua’s entry into the race shows the increasing struggle to govern in the region with many votes ahead of the 2027 General Election, with Jubilee keen to hold on to the seat it won in the last election.
4. People Daily
On Thursday, April 17, Kenyan Members of Parliament (MPs) passed a motion to reduce the Value Added Tax (VAT) on petroleum products from 16% to 8%.
This came after the Minister of National Treasury John Mbadi to announce measures to protect consumers from high fuel prices.
The move to halve VAT on fuel came after opposition leaders threatened to call for national protests over the fuel hike.
Mbadi will increase the new rate for 90 days due to high oil prices in the international market.
5. Nation Today
In one of its sharpest criticisms of Ruto’s administration to date, the Catholic Church warned that Kenya is heading in a bad direction due to increasing insecurity, financial problems and dysfunctional public systems.
Concerned about what they described as a growing culture of violence, the Kenya Catholic Bishops’ Conference (KCCB) questioned who is responsible for the mobs disrupting daily activities.
They wondered why the security forces were not concerned in handling the situation.
According to KCCB chairman Maurice Muhalia Makumba, the violence shows influential donors.
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Source: TUKO.co.ke
