On Saturday, November 1, Kenyan newspapers covered the post-election unrest in Tanzania, where protests turned violent amid clashes between police and youths, increasing public pressure against the administration of President Samia Suluhu.
Source: UGC
1. Saturday Nation
According to the newspaper, the governor of Homa Bay Gladys Wanga has defended his decision to officially open a new mortuary, even as the accident and emergency unit of the county’s referral hospital is not complete.
Wanga emphasized that mortuary services are an important part of the health sector, noting that the new facility has the capacity to accommodate 137 bodies, including a private unit for 37 people.
The governor’s decision has sparked criticism on social media, with residents questioning why the KSh200 million hospital unit, which was inaugurated in March 2023, has not been completed while the new county headquarters was completed and inaugurated by the President William Ruto in August.
Also read
Kirinyaga: Thugs invade the ACK Church and commit hooliganism, steal Bibles and drink wine
The former chairman of the Lake Victoria Southern Water Works Development Corporation, Odoyo Owidi, described the headquarters as a “luxury,” citing the stalled hospital project.
Wanga defended his administration, citing major improvements in health care delivery since 2022, including upgrading the Homa Bay County Referral Hospital from Level Four to Level Five with support from the Ministry of Health.
He noted that the mortuary is responding to the requests of residents campaigning and replacing a 50-year-old facility that could only fit 20 bodies, forcing families to use private services.
The center will also support the training of Kenya Medical College students in mortuary science, providing modern equipment and a professional environment.
Wanga described the mortuary as a statement of progress, a symbol of respect for human life and death, and part of a complete vision of health care for Homa Bay.
However, critics say the new mortuary highlights unfinished priorities, while the skeletal structure of the hospital wing serves as a reminder of unfinished projects, raising questions about the administration’s development direction and resource allocation.
2. Weekend PD
According to the daily, three years into Ruto’s leadership, his promise of a people-led government focused on the hustler is facing the rigors of Kenyan politics, where power is contested and alliances are constantly changed.
Reports from Nairobi indicate a possible Cabinet reshuffle caused less by performance and more by political strategy.
At the center of the maneuver are two unlikely camps: allies of the late prime minister Raila Odinga and the Moi family, represented by Kanu chairman Gideon Moi.
Sources indicate that Ruto may offer the Moi family a Cabinet position or allow them to appoint trusted allies, with Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna also being considered.
This move would mark the return of the Moi family to key government circles after nearly two decades Daniel Arap Moi leave power.
It could also help Ruto shore up support in the Rift Valley, a crucial region for any presidential bid.
By reconciling former adversaries, Ruto aims to turn potential adversaries into allies, strengthen his coalition, and project an image of inclusiveness and political maturity.
3. The Saturday Standard
The newspaper reports that the Kisii High Court has set an important precedent by ordering a divorced woman to return the dowry to her ex-husband and declaring alimony out of time under the 2010 Constitution.
The decision is based on the case of CKN, who divorced her husband, DMO, following the breakdown of the marriage.
Judge Kizito Magare upheld the lower court’s ruling that the woman must return the dowry worth more than KSh150,000, including cash, livestock, and gifts paid to her parents during their traditional Kisii marriage.
The judge ruled that such restitution is required after the dissolution of traditional and Christian marriages, regardless of whether the wife herself received the dowry.
“The position of the court is clear: the dowry must be returned after the dissolution of the marriage, and the claim of alimony is no longer constitutionally supported,” Judge Magare said.
He allowed that if she wished, the wife could request compensation from her parents within two years, but this did not relieve her of her duty to ensure such compensation.
The court also rejected the woman’s request for spousal maintenance, claiming that alimony is inconsistent with constitutional equality, which guarantees equal rights for men and women.
Justice Magare described alimony as a “colonial remnant” rooted in notions of women’s dependency and noted that after divorce, neither spouse is responsible for maintaining their spouse.
He emphasized that the failure of the marriage does not reduce the rights or obligations of the parents, affirming joint custody under Article 53.
Cultural commentators and Kisii elders hailed the decision for respecting tradition by ordering the return of the dowry.
Justice Magare concluded that all parties must leave the marriage with only emotional scars, signaling a shift in Kenyan family law that balances constitutional equality with cultural practices.
“…have fun and return to the market without the burden of a failed marriage….All parties must leave with only the scars of the marriage,” Judge Magare said.
4. Weekend Star
According to the newspaper, the endorsement of former Minister of Internal Affairs Fred Matiang’i as a candidate for the Jubilee Party led by Uhuru Kenyatta running for the presidency in 2027, is preparing the environment for fierce competition against William Ruto who is in power.
The approval puts Matiang’i as the leader of the opposition, but political analysts warn that the journey ahead is difficult.
Matiang’i is faced with the urgent challenge of rebuilding the structures of the Jubilee party, which has weakened due to migration and low morale since the 2022 elections.
He must lead the movement of national members and the mobilization of citizens to restore trust and show that Jubilee remains an effective political headquarters.
Success requires strategic coalition building to counter Ruto’s well-organized re-election machinery.
Analysts say that while this approval indicates high support, it does not guarantee voter support.
Matiang’i must prove his political prowess, strengthen opposition forces, and convince Kenyans that the party can deliver on its promises.
His campaign will test his planning skills, strategic acumen, and ability to unite a divided political base.
The coming months are expected to formulate an opposition strategy and determine whether Jubilee can regain its former influence.
For Matiang’i, turning endorsements into votes will be an important measure of his leadership and the party’s relevance in Kenya’s changing political landscape.
5. Nation Today
According to the Kiswahili newspaper, the Chief Magistrate of Tigania, James Macharia, has withdrawn from the case of Meru businessman Morris Gitonga, accused of pouring hot water on a 15-year-old girl, threatening her life and public anger.
Macharia, who would rule on Gitonga’s bail, said the environment in the Tigania court was not safe for the continuation of the case.
He received threatening calls and security assessments indicated a risk to the court and prosecution, resulting in the transfer of the case to the Meru High Court.
Gitonga, who denied the charges, appeared in court on Tuesday and asked for bail, which the investigating officer opposed, citing the dangers of witness intimidation.
The court ordered Gitonga to remain in Meru Prison for 14 days, with the next hearing scheduled for November 17, 2025.
The victim, a 15-year-old from Mailu village in West Tigania, suffered severe burns to his stomach, chest, back, and legs after being bound and burned on 28 September 2025.
The attack has caused widespread public outrage, with criticism directed at the police’s delayed action.
Read ENGLISH VERSION
Do you have an exciting story that you would like us to publish? Please contact us via news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
