Kenya Newspapers Review: John Mbadi, Kipchumba Murkomen Face Jail Time over e-Citizen Charge
On Saturday, August 9, local newspapers covered a broad range of political issues, spotlighting governance concerns involving the Social Health Authority (SHA) and an emerging scandal linked to the e-Citizen platform.
Source: UGC
1. The Saturday Standard
The paper reports that Parliament’s oversight role is under sharp scrutiny following claims that both the National Assembly and Senate are shielding the executive from accountability.
Allegations of rent-seeking, political favours, and compromised committee sessions have surfaced, casting doubt on lawmakers’ integrity.
The controversy was reignited during a Thursday National Assembly Tourism Committee session where Tourism CS Rebecca Miano faced questions over a KSh 31.6 billion refurbishment of Bomas of Kenya.
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MPs, led by Innocent Mugabe, demanded clarity on who authorised the project without Parliament’s approval, warning of a repeat of the Sh3 billion KICC procurement scandal.
Concerns deepened when the committee chair, Kareke Mbiuki, appeared to deflect tough questions, prompting accusations that MPs were protecting the CS.
The project, overseen by the Ministry of Defence, raised further suspicion about tender processes and transparency.
Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka and Mukurweini MP John Kaguchia alleged MPs have traded their oversight mandate for money, tenders, and employment favours.
Onyonka claimed Kenyans are “on their own” as leaders share the spoils. The Senate has faced similar accusations.
Onyonka recently walked out of a finance committee meeting after accusing members of defending Treasury CS John Mbadi instead of interrogating Kenya’s mounting debt.
He warned that amendments to the Public Finance Management Act have allowed the presidency to borrow for recurrent expenditure without proper checks.
Past scandals have reinforced these concerns. The Senate’s Shakahola massacre inquiry in 2023 drew criticism over questionable committee conduct and resource use.
Despite denials from committee chair Danson Mungatana, questions linger over whether Parliament can hold the executive to account.
Speaker Amason Kingi has promised administrative measures, but critics argue the rot runs deeper, warning that unchecked collusion between lawmakers and the executive threatens public trust in Kenya’s governance system.
2. Taifa Leo
According to the Swahili daily, Kenya will pursue diplomacy rather than retaliation in response to Tanzania’s new policy banning foreigners from operating certain small businesses.
The move, which Nairobi fears could harm Kenyan investors, affects 15 listed sectors in Tanzania.
Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs Minister Musalia Mudavadi told MPs in Nairobi that while Kenya disagrees with aspects of Tanzania’s investment policies, it will seek dialogue to avoid escalating trade hostilities.
Appearing before the National Assembly’s Regional Integration Committee, Mudavadi addressed concerns over trade disputes involving Tanzania and Uganda.
He stressed that diplomacy is preferable to confrontation and pledged to write to his Tanzanian counterpart over policies seen as breaching the East African Community treaty, which allows free movement of people, workers, and goods.
While the number of Kenyan traders likely to be affected is unclear, Nairobi views the restrictions as discriminatory against its investors.
3. The Weekend Star
The daily reported that President William Ruto and opposition leader Raila Odinga have reaffirmed their political alliance ahead of the 2027 elections, urging critics to wait until then to judge their deal.
At the burial of former Karachuonyo MP and Maendeleo ya Wanawake founder Phoebe Asiyo in Homa Bay, the two leaders dismissed dissent, insisting their partnership will last beyond 2027.
Raila likened opponents to “frogs whose croaking cannot stop a cow from drinking water” and said they would explain the reasons for their cooperation when the time comes.
Both leaders traced their unity to a shared desire to avert national collapse during last year’s Gen Z protests, pledging to protect human rights, defend devolution, and fight poverty.
Ruto hailed Raila as a patriot whose sacrifices have shaped Kenya’s political history. He said their broad-based government brings all communities into one administration and announced a joint parliamentary group meeting next week to secure backing for legislation implementing their 10-point memorandum of understanding.
The partnership includes a joint team to oversee implementation and a framework to compensate victims of police brutality as part of national healing efforts.
Raila defended his move to work with Ruto as a necessary sacrifice to stabilise a country he said was at risk of becoming a failed state.
Both leaders praised Asiyo as a pioneer for women’s leadership, with Ruto pledging to name a Nairobi monument in her honour.
4. Saturday Nation
As per the publication, four Cabinet Secretaries risk contempt charges over the continued collection of a KSh50 “convenience fee” from Kenyans using the e-Citizen platform, despite a court order halting the levy.
Nakuru-based surgeon Magare-Gikenyi has moved to the High Court seeking to have Treasury CS John Mbadi, Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen, ICT CS William Kabogo, and Education CS Julius Ogamba cited for defying Justice Chacha Mwita’s April 1 judgment.
He also wants KRA Commissioner-General Humphrey Wattanga and Attorney-General Dorcas Oduor punished for the same offence.
Justice Mwita had ruled the charge, KSh50 for Kenyans and $1 for foreign transactions unless waived by the Treasury, illegal, unconstitutional, and a form of double taxation.
He also quashed a government directive requiring school fees and other levies for public learning institutions to be paid through the platform, terming it irrational and without accountability for where the money goes.
In his court papers, Gikenyi accuses the officials of perpetuating the levy in blatant disregard of the judgment, warning that this culture of ignoring court orders undermines the rule of law.
He insists that the decision was clear, binding, and should be obeyed unless overturned by a superior court, which has not happened.
Justice Mwita’s judgment stressed that Kenyans and foreigners cannot be compelled to use a system they neither requested nor be made to maintain it through additional charges.
The ruling prohibited the Treasury, ICT, and Education ministries from making e-Citizen the mandatory payment channel for school fees.
Proofreading by Asher Omondi, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
