magicnewskenya

By Grace Mwende Makovu NAIROBI, Kenya, February 17, 2026 - Mumias Sugar Company has issued a detailed explanation to farmers over prolonged delays in cane harvesting, citing overlapping ownership disputes with rival millers, a three-month industry shutdown, and difficult terrain in Busia County as the primary obstacles to smooth operations. In a public notice dated February 11, 2026, the miller acknowledged that harvesting activities have been severely disrupted by conflicts in the field over claims of self-developed cane. The company specifically named competitors West Kenya Sugar Company and Busia Sugar Industry, alleging that overlapping claims have led to complaints lodged with regulators and interruptions to harvesting operations, including the harassment of harvesting teams. The statement from Mumias Sugar reveals a chaotic situation in the sugarcane belt where multiple millers are operating in close proximity. With West Kenya and Busia Sugar both active in the r...

By Wilson Amondo In a sweeping public reversal, former Disability League organizing secretary Mohamed Haji has issued a forceful apology to several prominent Somali leaders and announced his immediate defection from the Democratic Congress Party (DCP) to the United Democratic Alliance (UDA). Haji delivered the statement Tuesday before community elders, citing a personal reckoning and deep political disillusionment. He opened with a direct apology to Abduwali, a man he said he wrongly denounced due to a similarity of name in a past “political game.” “I am apologizing publicly for denouncing him, depriving him of his right as a Kenyan,” Haji stated unequivocally. He extended the apology to what he termed “important pillars” of the Somali community: Senator Abdul Adam Barre, former Deputy Speaker Farah Maalim, and former Assistant Minister Aden Kainan. He pledged to no longer use vulgar words against them.“Disrespecting them is not the norm of Somali culture,” he said. “I seek...

Yatta Member of Parliament Hon. Robert Ngui Basil has emerged as the best performing MP in Machakos County, following a series of development initiatives that have significantly improved access to water, education, and youth empowerment in the constituency. A key pillar of Basil’s performance has been investment in water and food security.  The MP has initiated and supported the construction of earth dams and water projects in areas including Muusini, Kisiiki, Ilumanthi, and Kathangathini, easing perennial water shortages.  He has also continuously lobbied for the proposed Yatta Mega Dam, a flagship project expected to boost irrigation, farming, and long-term food security across the region. In the education sector, Basil has overseen the construction of classrooms, sanitation facilities, and other learning infrastructure in several primary schools. His administration has also strengthened the NG-CDF bursary programme, enabling thousands of needy students to access...

Agano National Party has praised President William Samoei Ruto for withdrawing the proposed Religious Control Bill, saying the move protects constitutional freedoms and the right to worship. In a statement released after the announcement at State House, Nairobi, Agano Party Secretary-General Hon. Odanga Pessa said the decision reflects respect for the Constitution and Kenya’s diverse religious community. “The withdrawal of the Religious Control Bill upholds the Constitution and safeguards freedom of worship,” Pessa said, welcoming the President’s move. The party noted that the proposed Bill had drawn widespread concern from faith leaders and members of the public, with critics warning that it could lead to undue state interference in religious affairs. Agano Party said President Ruto’s decision sends a positive signal on the government’s commitment to protecting fundamental rights and urged continued engagement with religious stakeholders through dialogue rather than restri...

Agano National Party has condemned what it terms as a growing pattern of police brutality targeting churches and peaceful worshippers, warning that the actions threaten constitutional freedoms and Kenya’s democratic fabric. In a press statement, the party’s Secretary General and Nairobi Senatorial aspirant, Hon. Odanga Pessa, cited recent incidents in which police officers allegedly teargassed church compounds and disrupted prayer services in parts of Nairobi and other urban centres.  According to the party, the operations exposed clergy, women, and children to teargas inside places of worship. Pessa said the incidents constitute a direct violation of the Constitution, which safeguards freedom of worship, conscience, and peaceful assembly, and accused the security agencies of desecrating spaces meant for prayer, peace, and moral guidance. “Churches are sanctuaries, not battlegrounds,” the statement read, warning that the use of force against religious institutions under...

The collapse of a building under construction in South C, Nairobi, has once again exposed deep-rooted systemic failures in Kenya’s construction and development control systems, according to leading built environment professional associations. In a joint statement issued after the tragedy, the professionals described the incident as the outcome of long-standing weaknesses across the entire development chain — from planning approvals and design to construction, inspection, and enforcement. They noted that building collapses are rarely caused by a single error, but instead result from interconnected failures involving poor planning, compromised construction methods, substandard materials, weak inspections, corruption, political interference, and the involvement of unqualified practitioners. “This is not a professional turf war. It is a national safety crisis,” the statement said, warning that unless structural reforms are implemented, more lives will continue to be lost. The a...