Top 10 most read stories this week

The following stories were most read in the last seven days based on analytics.

1. State to review taxes on salaries to ease burden on employees – Mbadi

National Treasury CS John Mbadi

The National Treasury admitted that high taxes on salaries are among the three key reasons Kenyans have no money in their pockets despite an improved economy.

Speaking at the launch of the FinAcess Survey 2024 by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), Kenya Bankers Association (KBA) and FSD, Treasury CS John Mbadi promised to ask the cabinet to consider easing Pay-As-You-Earn as the budget deficit shrinks.

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2. State advertises 37 job vacancies in various institutions

The government announced 37 job vacancies in various institutions, across the ministries, universities and departments.

Among them is the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), which is looking for an assistant director, of land assets and an assistant director, of ICT (Systems).

The Authority said all candidates who meet the requirements detailed in the job specifications should apply online using the provided link accessible via the KeNHA Website.

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3. KU Hospital Board chair Olive Mugenda resigns

The Chairperson of the Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral, and Research Hospital (KUTRRH) Board, Olive Mugenda resigned. In a statement on Tuesday, State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohamed said President William Ruto has received and accepted Mugenda’s resignation.

The President acknowledged Professor Mugenda's significant contributions to the growth and development of KUTRRH during her tenure and also extended his gratitude for her service.

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4. Jambojet announces flight disruptions as plane crashes into pole at JKIA

Jambojet aircraft/Handout

Jambo Jet confirmed an incident involving an aircraft during routine overnight maintenance activities.

The Company said the incident happened while the aircraft was parked, when it rolled off the ramp and came into contact with a pole, resulting in some damage to its nose.

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5. Big clash as Raila faces AU rivals in TV debate

Kenya’s candidate for the African Union Commission chairperson, Raila Odinga, will on Wednesday face his main opponents in a high-stakes debate beamed live across Africa.

The race for the continental top job enters the homestretch and Kenya is going flat out to bag the seat in the February election.

MjadalaAfrika Leadership debate will run from 1900 to 2100hrs East Africa Time.

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6. Modern Coast bus burst into flames in Naivasha

Modern Coast Bus burst into flames in Naivasha.

A Modern Coast bus on Saturday burst into flames near Gilgil Weighbridge along the Naivasha-Nakuru highway.

The bus had left Nairobi for Kampala and it had 23 passengers at the time the incident happened.

All passengers were evacuated.

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7. State shuts boarding sections of 340 schools

Basic Education PS Belio Kipsang.

The government has directed the closure of boarding sections of 340 public and private primary schools for failing to meet safety standards.

Basic Education PS BelioKipsang said a compliance assessment conducted in September and October established that some institutions grossly contravened the provisions of the Safety Standards Manual for Schools in Kenya (2008).

The PS said the schools also failed to adhere to the standards as prescribed in the Registration Guidelines for Basic Education Institutions (2021) and were consequently not approved to host boarding learners.

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8. Ruto eyes MutahiKagwe for Interior in fresh Cabinet

Ex-health CS Mutahi Kagwe

Among the names under consideration is former Health CS MutahiKagwe, who may be appointed as the new Interior CS to replace KithureKindiki, who was promoted to Deputy President.

Currently, MusaliaMudavadi is the acting internal security minister. Ruto’s move appears to be a strategic attempt to placate the restless Mt Kenya region, particularly the Nyeri community, which has expressed dissatisfaction with the current representation in government.

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9. Sakaja’s mother Emily Ayoti honoured posthumously

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja with his family and other leaders.

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja together with his siblings on Friday received an award on behalf of their mother the late Emily AyotiKubasuSakaja.

Mama Ayoti was awarded the National Heroes Award posthumously by President William Ruto.

In a statement on X, Sakaja expressed gratitude for the acknowledgement of their mother whom he described as a champion.

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10. Orange men take the bullet as Team Ruto goes missing

President William Ruto

President William Ruto’s lieutenants in the Executive have taken a back seat as co-opted opposition Cabinet Secretaries run the show in government.

Since the broad-based government was birthed, a peculiar arrangement has emerged where once-staunch Ruto critics have turned to be his mouthpieces as the ruling party appointees quietly recede to the background. Ruto co-opted John Mbadi (Treasury), OpiyoWandayi (Energy), Wycliffe Oparanya (Cooperatives), Hassan Joho (Blue Economy) and Beatrice Askul (EAC and ASALs).

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