On Friday, March 20, Kenyan newspapers reported warnings from the Kenya Meteorological Department about floods and landslides as heavy rain fell across the country.
Daily newspapers also highlighted the growing divisions in the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
Source: UGC
1. Daily Nation
After the storms on Wednesday, March 18, caused flash floods and damaged property, residents of Kwanza, Trans Nzoia, are counting losses due to heavy rains.
Flooding in low-lying areas forced more than 40 people to evacuate.
The disaster followed a warning by the Kenya Meteorological Department of heavy rainfall exceeding 20mm in many parts of the country, increasing the risk of landslides, floods, and major damage.
The heavy rain is expected to continue until Tuesday, March 24, before gradually tapering off.
High risk areas include the Lake Victoria region, the Highlands Basin (including the Rift Valley), and counties such as Kisumu, Kakamega, Nakuru, Kiambu, and Nairobi.
“Residents of the mentioned areas are advised to be alert for possible flooding,” the department warned.
2. The Standard
The President’s university funding system William Ruto highly publicized is beginning to show signs of tension, raising concerns that it may face challenges like the previous ones.
Just three years after its inception, the system is under increasing pressure, with a growing budget deficit questioning its sustainability.
Launched in 2023, the student-centered funding approach was presented as a long-term solution to the financial crisis that had saddled public universities with debt.
The president has repeatedly tried to reassure the public that this system would strengthen institutions by aligning funding with student needs and breaking the cycle of chronic underfunding.
However, three years later, it is becoming increasingly clear that many challenges remain, the biggest of which is the ongoing funding shortage.
3. People Daily
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) is facing a major internal crisis as rival groups plan to hold parallel National Delegate Conferences (NDCs) on Friday, March 27, 2026.
The crisis has exposed a major division within the party, with each side claiming its legitimacy and claiming to defend the political legacy of its founding leader, the late Raila Odinga.
The conflict is centered on the “Linda Ground” and “Linda Mwananchi” groups, both of which say they represent the true voice of ODM.
The Linda Ground group, supported by the party’s senior leadership, insists that the official NDC will be held at Jamhuri Stadium.
Gladys Wangathe chairman of the party, has emphasized that the members have already received official information and that the meeting has been duly approved by the National Executive Council (NEC).
4. The Star
About 80% of public services that the government spent KSh 946 million to convert to digital on the platform eCitizen are not used, a recent audit shows.
According to the report of the Auditor General Nancy Gathungu, many of the uploaded services are still not working despite the efforts of ministries, departments, and organizations to adopt the system, leaving the platform underutilized.
In his assessment covering the period up to June 30, 2025, Gathungu raised serious concerns about value for money and implementation.
“In that case, the value of the money could not be ascertained,” he said.
5. Nation Today
Kenyan lawmakers are pushing to replace private security guards with graduates of the National Youth Service (NYS) in some public agencies, according to a motion tabled in the National Assembly.
Kilifi women’s representative Gertrude Mbeyu wants the government to give NYS graduates a clear professional path as well as give them contracts for those services and give them a permanent payment.
“There is a need for a balanced approach that promotes youth employment through the planned participation of NYS graduates while preserving opportunities for private security companies to continue working and partnering with government institutions,” the motion says.
If approved, the state would create a mechanism to allocate a portion of the security provision to public agencies for NYS graduates and private businesses.
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Source: TUKO.co.ke
