Kenya Newspapers Review: High Court Orders Recognition of Transgender Community as 3rd Gender
On Saturday, August 16, local newspapers focused on political strategies unfolding ahead of the 2027 elections, spotlighting President William Ruto’s recent nominations for appointment to key government positions.
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Source: UGC
Saturday Nation
The publication reports on a tragedy that has shaken the Korwa and Katieno clans of Nyakach to their core.
Naki Primary School will host a mass funeral for 26 victims of the Kisumu bus crash of 8 August.
The deceased were among 54 clan members travelling to Nyahera, Kisumu West, for the burial of 78-year-old Risper Akeyo Ogendo when their bus overturned at the Coptic Roundabout.
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Twenty-one died instantly, with five more succumbing to injuries in the hospital.
The community received the bodies from the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital mortuary, where grief was palpable.
Twenty-two coffins lay in the lobby, with four more held for relatives arriving from abroad.
A convoy of 22 hearses escorted by police made its way through Kisumu to Koguta Katombo village, where the bodies lay in vigil.
Funeral committee chair Engineer Vincent Kodera confirmed the service would begin at 9am, stressing it would be apolitical to allow space for collective mourning.
The committee faces a funding shortfall of KSh4.5 million and has appealed for public contributions.
Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o pledged county and national government support to ease the families’ burden.
Taifa Leo
The Swahili paper reports that Kenya’s Supreme Court has dismissed a petition seeking a constitutional interpretation on the date of the next General Election, ruling it lacked jurisdiction over the matter.
The full bench, led by Chief Justice Martha Koome, found that it had no legal mandate to address the issues raised by lawyer Owiso Owiso, human rights advocate Khelef Khalifa, and lawyer Ashioya Biko.
The trio had petitioned in April 2025, arguing that the next election should be held in August 2026, not 2027 as scheduled by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
They claimed that holding it in 2027 would exceed the constitutional five-year limit since the 2022 polls, effectively extending President William Ruto’s term unlawfully.
The court stated that under Article 140 of the Constitution, its special jurisdiction applies only to disputes over the validity of a presidential election, not to determining election dates.
The Weekend Star
As per the paper, the High Court in Eldoret has ordered the state to officially recognise the transgender community as the third gender.
The paper stated that Justice Reuben Nyakundi directed that the Intersex Persons Bill, 2024, be amended to identify the rights of the transgender community.
Nyakundi also recommended the enactment of a Transgender Protection Rights Act to ensure equal protection and recognition for transgender persons.
The Saturday Standard
The daily reports a sharp escalation in diplomatic rhetoric between China and the United States over Kenya’s deepening ties with Beijing.
Chinese ambassador to Kenya, Guo Haiyan, accused Washington of “Cold War mentality and hegemonic behaviour” following US Senator Jim Risch’s proposal to review Kenya’s major non-NATO ally (MNNA) status.
The US amendment, tied to the 2026 defence spending bill, cites concerns over Nairobi’s links with China, Russia, and Iran, and questions its Belt and Road participation.
Guo defended China-Kenya cooperation as mutually beneficial and irrelevant to third countries, urging respect for sovereignty and non-interference.
Her remarks came days after President William Ruto highlighted new trade concessions from Beijing, including tariff-free access for Kenyan tea, coffee, and avocados, aimed at reducing a vast trade imbalance.
The US pressure comes amid trade disputes, stalled development projects, and tariff hikes under the Trump administration, which Kenyan officials say are eroding American influence and pushing Nairobi closer to China.
A Senate report warned that punitive tariffs and the looming expiry of the African Growth and Opportunity Act could cost Kenya millions in exports and hundreds of thousands of jobs.
Chinese investment, especially in infrastructure and military cooperation, has grown markedly, with Beijing now providing half of Kenya’s military imports and extensive training.
While Washington’s acting ambassador reaffirmed Kenya’s strategic importance, Nairobi insists it seeks balanced relations.
Guo concluded by invoking the lessons of World War II, calling for resistance to power politics and the creation of an equitable, multipolar world.
Proofreading by Asher Omondi, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
