On Friday, January 30, Kenyan newspapers highlighted why President William Ruto’s allies were worried about a political agreement with the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
The dailies also reported the massive spending planned by the Deputy President (DP). Kithur Kindiki for helicopters and commercial aircraft in the fiscal year ending June 2026.
Source: UGC
1. The Standard
Leaders who support the ruling UDA party are increasingly worried that many of them may be casualties of the power-sharing plan expected before the elections between President William Ruto and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Oburu Oginga.
ODM has already made it clear that it will accept at least the deputy president, speaker of the National Assembly and several Cabinet positions, whether equal or greater than what Ruto gave to his Mt Kenya allies during the 2022 General Election.
If the agreement is successful, DP Kithure Kindiki and the Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetangula they can be relegated to lower positions or returned to Cabinet positions, both of which they have previously held.
UDA leaders publicly expressed concern about political isolation despite their role in forming the current government during the recent National Leadership Council (NGC) meeting at the State House in Nairobi.
“When we continue with the official talks, we, the children of the house, are very afraid because those who have been in the family tend to be ignored when others come in,” Tana River senator Danson Mungatana said.
UDA Chairperson Cecily Mbarire expressed concern about the fate of Kindiki, while praising him for explaining the government’s policies effectively since he took the position of Rigathi Gachagua.
Mbarire assured the DP of the support of the UDA and its allies, warning against disrupting the Ruto-Kindiki alliance.
2. Daily Nation
The publication revealed that DP Kindiki plans to spend KSh 338.8 million on transport in the year ending June 2026.
This was despite the government’s assurance of austerity measures due to financial constraints.
According to the procurement plans of the DP office, during that period, Kindiki will spend KSh 150.2 million for helicopter transport, KSh 144 million for commercial aircraft, and KSh 44.6 million for chartered vehicles.
The amount planned for the flights is more than three times the KSh 100 million allocated for the High School President’s Budget Plan this year.
It is close to KSh 350 million allocated to the Women’s Business Fund.
This disclosure comes at a time when the DP office spent KSh 3.2 billion compared to the annual budget of KSh 2.97 billion by December 2025, exceeding its normal annual budget by KSh 219.3 million in just six months.
3. People Daily
Ruto is dangling the carrot of the DAP-K leader Eugene Malwa.
The President is on a spectacular attack to convince the Western Kenyan leader to come to his camp before the 2027 General Election.
Through the Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula, the president encouraged Malwa to withdraw from the Opposition camp and join the government side.
Wetang’ula recently held a regular meeting with the Malwa during a funeral ceremony in Maili Saba.
This happened ahead of Ruto’s visit to Malwa’s home region of Trans-Nzoia in the coming week.
4. The Star
Kenya’s financial burden has increased due to the government’s revenue deficit of KSh136 billion while the debt crisis is expected to continue beyond 2030.
The shortfall will force the Ruto administration to return to Parliament to seek approval for a supplementary budget, reopening the current spending plan with cuts and transfers, according to Treasury Secretary Chris Kiptoo.
The Treasury has been forced to restructure spending based on what it can get from the lack of revenue, which has led to underfunding of key government programs.
“Out of a total revenue of KSh1,500.6 billion, there was a poor performance of KSh136.1 billion, mainly due to a shortfall of KSh113.5 billion in ordinary revenue. Except for customs duties, all tax heads performed poorly,” Kiptoo revealed.
5. Nation Today
The publication reported a mystery about the deaths of 15 street children in Nairobi.
The nine victims were buried in a mass burial due to limited space after their bodies were taken from Nairobi Funeral Home (formerly City Mortuary).
However, six bodies were left at the facility awaiting post-mortem.
Records showed that street children died on different dates in different parts of the city, while two died suddenly in Mlango Kubwa and Mathare.
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