On Saturday, May 24, local newspapers discussed various issues, emphasizing political change in the country and government decisions affecting citizens.
Source: UGC
1. Saturday Nation
The newspaper reported that the government plans to remove the exemption of the national examination fees that have existed for ten years, starting next year. This will require parents to pay for their children’s national examinations except for those who will be proven to be in need through a specific economic assessment system.
Minister of National Treasury and Economic Planning, John Mbadihe said the government would use the beneficiary subsidized system to help those who could not afford such fees. However, he did not specify what criteria would be used to determine the need.
Mbadi said that parents paying high school fees in private schools are able to pay the exam fees, and asked why taxpayers should take the burden of paying for each student’s exams.
This exemption was introduced in 2015 by then -president Uhuru Kenyatta for public schools, and expanded to private schools in 2017, and has helped students conduct national examinations like KCSE, KPSEA and KJSEA.
GOVERNMENT has increased examinations from KSh4 billion to KSh5 billion a year in recent times.
Mbadi defended this change as a financial responsibility and ensured justice, denied the rumors that there was no funding to finance this year’s exams, and to assure parents not to the Parents.
KNEC’s Chief Executive Officer, David Njeng’ere, supported the individual funding system (per capita Funding) instead of a general subsidy, saying the increase in the number of candidates has been a challenge for funding.
The chairman of the National Parent Association, Silas Obuhata, expressed concern about the move, demanded that public consultation be done and warned that some children may be forced to drop out of school due to failing to pay examination fees.
He compared the program to the funding complex of universities established in 2023, which has had challenges for implementation and legal cases.
2. The Saturday Standard
According to this post, while Kenya was still in response to the impact of last year’s Gen Z protests, the President William Ruto He allegedly took action quietly to strengthen the authority of the Office of the Chief of Staff and the Head of Public Service (HOPS), a position that legal experts say is not mentioned in the Constitution.
The newspaper reports, according to various sources and documents, that one of the most complex cases is the silent transfer of the public seal from the Attorney General’s Office to Hops, Felix Koskei, amid allegations of kidnapping and people’s disappearance.
The public seal, identified in the Kenyan constitution as a national symbol, is used to confirm official government documents.
Critics say that the removal of the seal from the authority of the Attorney General could undermine legal management and open the door to government -free and accountable activities.
Former Attorney General Justin Muturi allegedly opposed the move, and some local people claim that it led to his removal.
His successor, Dorcas Oduor, gave a misunderstanding when interviewed about the place where the seal was now.
The presidential decree issued in November 2023 announced that Hops would now be the guard of the seal.
Lawyers like Gitobu Imanyara and Willis Otieno warned that the move may violate the constitutional aspects and jeopardize the system of monitoring and balancing power.
Meanwhile, a government spokesman, Isaac Mwaurahe defended the transfer as legal, although conflicting reports later raised doubts about his legal basis.
Political and legal analysts emphasize that putting a strong sign in the hands of a presidential nominee who has not been approved by Parliament and has no constitutional basis can undermine public confidence and cause major legal challenges.
3. Nation today
The Swahili newspaper reported that detectives in Kitengela, Kajiado County, arrested a police officer who allegedly attacked and wounded two of his colleagues at work.
According to a police report registered under a book number 27/22/05/2025, the officer from Athi River Police Station, Machakos County, was initially arrested by traffic officers on the Nairobi -Namanga Road for various traffic offenses but became stubborn.
The officer allegedly was drunk during the incident and faces charges including driving without insurance, driving, drunk, violating traffic officer’s instructions, and protesting the arrest.
After being taken to the Kitengela police station for normal procedures, he allegedly attacked two officers on duty – a cellular and a station guard – and caused injuries.
One officer suffered head and leg injuries (left), while the other was broken a little finger in his hand (right). They were all taken to hospital and given P3 forms to help in the prosecution.
The suspect is still detained at the Kitengela police station while the investigation is underway, and the car he was driving was seized.
4. Weekend Star
According to the newspaper, a man was arrested for allegedly invading the Catholic Church in Suneka, Kisii County, causing damage to property worth more than KSh200,000, according to police reports.
Authorities said the suspect entered the church area by jumping the outside fence and then breaking the doors to enter.
Inside, he is reportedly breaking 27 plastic chairs, two music speakers, several doors and one window.
Police explained that the three guards at work tried to stop him but faced violence.
One guard lost teeth Threewhile another suffers serious injuries after ironing. The injured security guard was taken to hospital and his condition was reported to be calm.
Security officials responded to a call for help, controlled the suspect and took him to custody.
The suspect also suffered injuries during the riot and was taken to hospital.
Investigators said they were planning to conduct a mental assessment to determine the suspect’s mental state. The reason for the attack is still unknown.
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