A single dry-aged piece of Japanese A5 Wagyu has sold for around $3,200.

Regular supermarket ribeye looks like a bargain next to it. So why does aged Wagyu command prices that make even luxury diners blink?

The answer begins with genetics. Authentic Japanese Wagyu comes from four native breeds, overwhelmingly Japanese Black (Kuroge Washu).

These cattle were refined over generations for one trait: extreme intramuscular fat, or marbling.

A5 is the top Japanese grade; only a small percentage of cattle ever reach it.

“The price of wagyu comes down to genetics, time, and precision,” says Golan Haiem, founder of Destination Wagyu.

Time is the second multiplier. Ordinary cattle go to slaughter at 15–24 months.

Wagyu animals are typically raised 28–36 months, often close to three years.

“Their diet is highly controlled, often grain-finished for over 400 days,” Haiem explains.

That long, high-energy diet of grains, rice straw and carefully selected forage produces the snowflake-like fat that gives Wagyu its rich, buttery texture and clean finish.

Extra months mean extra feed, extra labor, extra risk and a delayed payday for farmers.

Japan’s limited land and high labor costs keep production small-scale.

Cattle live low-stress lives, spacious housing, constant monitoring, no growth hormones.

Each animal is traced with a unique ID that records lineage back three generations.

Japan banned live-animal exports decades ago to protect the bloodlines.

The result is genuine scarcity: only a sliver of production ever leaves the country, and every kilogram that does carries certification, cold-chain and tariff costs.

“Importing real Japanese wagyu adds even more cost because of limited supply, certifications, and shipping requirements,” Haiem notes.

Global demand keeps rising. Supply cannot.

Then comes aging. Dry-aging Wagyu takes an already costly product and makes it rarer still.

Over 21–45 days (sometimes far longer) in a controlled chamber, moisture evaporates 10–20 percent weight loss is common, while enzymes tenderize the meat and concentrate flavor into nutty, funky, almost cheese-like notes.

The dried outer crust must be trimmed away, cutting yield again.

Facilities, energy and expertise add more cost.

One well-known YouTube butcher dry-aged an A5 Wagyu picanha and later remarked that the piece was now worth $3,000.

“The results are now the ones you could expect,” he said.

The most famous example of the price ceiling is Matsusaka Wagyu.

In 2002 one cow sold at auction for roughly $400,000.

Its fat melts at an astonishingly low 12°C.

That is the extreme end of a spectrum that already starts at $120–$300 per pound for A5 steaks in the United States.

Is it worth it? Haiem is blunt: “If you’re looking for something unique and high quality, yes. It justifies the price.”

Chefs often serve it in small portions precisely because the richness is overwhelming in large bites.

The fat is higher in monounsaturated fats than ordinary beef, the texture is unlike anything else, and the flavor lingers.

For most people it remains a once-in-a-lifetime indulgence.

For those who can afford it, aged Wagyu is not just dinner.

It is the most expensive, most pampered, most precisely engineered piece of meat on Earth.

The signature snowflake marbling of A5 Wagyu — the visual reason the price soars.

Fresh versus dry-aged Wagyu: moisture loss and flavor concentration come at a steep yield cost.

Inside a Japanese Wagyu barn — small-scale, high-care production that cannot be rushed.

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In a detailed decision rendered by the Public Procurement Administrative Review Board (PPARB) directed the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to correct, clarify and amend various sections of the tender document before publishing a fresh version and inviting bidders to submit new bids.

“The Respondents are hereby directed to review and make the necessary corrections, clarifications and/or amendments to the Tender Document in accordance with the findings of the Board contained in this Decision,” the Board chaired by Vice Chairperson Alice Oeri

The decision affects Tender No. IEBC/OIT/01/2026-2027, which covers the supply, delivery, installation, testing, commissioning, support and maintenance of the IEMS, including hardware equipment and accessories.

The tender had been scheduled to close on September 1, but the procurement process was automatically suspended after Galadirel Investments Limited filed a request for review before the Board on August 14.

The Board found several deficiencies in the tender document, particularly provisions governing the technical evaluation of bids.

The tribunal found that IEBC had failed to clearly set out how bidders would be scored under several technical evaluation criteria.

It singled out the technical evaluation criteria on pages 34 to 36 of the tender document, saying bidders could not determine in advance how their scores would be calculated within the point ranges provided.

“The Tender Document does not indicate the score attributable to each of these attributes, nor does it provide a scale or objective benchmarks for distinguishing, for example, a score of two per cent (2%) from seven per cent (7%) or ten per cent (10%),” the Board ruled.

It added: “tenderers cannot ascertain in advance how the evaluator will translate the extent or combination of the stated attributes into a particular score.”

The Board said the ambiguity was significant because the technical evaluation carried a total of 100 points and bidders were required to attain a minimum score to proceed.

It therefore found that a bidder’s ability to qualify could potentially depend on criteria whose scoring methodology had not been objectively disclosed.

The tribunal also questioned the use of both a “Max Score” column and a separate “Compliance (Y/N)” parameter in the evaluation criteria.

According to the Board, the tender did not make it sufficiently clear whether a bidder marked “Yes” for compliance would automatically receive the maximum score or would merely qualify for further assessment.

The tribunal also faulted IEBC over a mandatory preliminary requirement requiring bidders to provide a “certified copy of tax compliance/exemption certificate or equivalent.”

It found the words “or equivalent” created uncertainty, particularly because the tender was an open international procurement involving prospective foreign bidders.

The Board further found ambiguity in Clause 8 of the tender document, which referred to both post-qualification and non-post-qualification without clearly stating which procurement method would apply.

However, the tribunal rejected some of Galadirel’s complaints.

It dismissed the company’s claim that IEBC had unlawfully imposed a 20 per cent performance security, finding that the Special Conditions of Contract actually prescribed a 10 per cent security, which was consistent with Section 142 of the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act.

The Board also rejected the challenge against the Sh30 million tender security, ruling that Galadirel had not demonstrated that the amount exceeded the statutory two per cent ceiling based on the value of the tender.

IEBC had also asked the tribunal to dismiss the case, arguing that Galadirel should first have sought clarification from the Commission under Section 75 of the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act.

The Board rejected the argument and held that it had jurisdiction to determine the dispute under Section 167(1).

However, it cautioned bidders against treating the statutory clarification process under Section 75 “as an optional procedural formality.”

However, the Board did not uphold Galadriel’s allegation that the tender had been tailored to favour Miru Systems.

In its final orders, the tribunal allowed Galadirel’s request for review in part and directed IEBC to undertake the necessary corrections, clarifications and amendments identified in the decision.

After making the changes, IEBC has been ordered to publish a new and compliant tender document and give prospective bidders time to consider the amendments and prepare their bids.

The Board specified that the period given to bidders must not be less than seven days.

“Upon undertaking the review and making the necessary corrections and/or amendments, the Respondents shall issue and publish a new and compliant Tender Document and accord prospective tenderers such period as may be prescribed by law, provided that such period shall not be less than seven (7) days to consider the amendments and prepare and submit their tenders,” the Board said.

The Board further gave IEBC permission to seek technical assistance from the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) and ordered that a copy of the decision be placed before the Authority’s Director-General.

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The clarification came on Sunday August 30,2026 after reports linked Nalitex Limited to the procurement of the new Kenya Police Service General Duty uniforms, raising questions about the company’s involvement in a multi-billion-shilling government contract.

But the NPS strongly rejected the claims, saying Nalitex was never involved in the procurement process.

“The NPS is particularly concerned that the media reports have introduced an entity referred to as Nalitex Limited into the procurement and manufacture of the new police uniform, yet the said entity does not feature anywhere in the NPS process relating to its development, selection, procurement or manufacture,” the Service said in a statement.

It added: “This association is false and malicious.”

The police service said Bedi Investments was lawfully awarded the contract after a process that involved local textile manufacturers, development of uniform standards, submission and evaluation of samples and public participation.

“For clarity, the new police uniforms are being manufactured by M/s Bedi Investments Limited, which was lawfully awarded the contract by the National Police Service,” NPS said.

According to the Service, four Kenyan manufacturers, Bedi Investments, Rivatex East Africa, Thika Textile Mills and Sunflag Textiles & Knitwear Mills, were invited to submit samples under the Government’s Buy Kenya, Build Kenya initiative.

Only Bedi Investments and Rivatex submitted samples within the stipulated period, with Bedi’s sample eventually selected following evaluation and public participation and approved through the relevant security structures.

The subsequent procurement was conducted under the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act, 2015, and applicable regulations.

The controversy has nevertheless placed a spotlight on the justification for the new uniforms and the role attributed to the Maraga task force.

The NPS said the decision to change the General Duty uniform preceded procurement and arose from broader police reforms.

Officers and members of the public had raised concerns about the previous uniform, prompting the Maraga-led team to recommend reverting to earlier uniform colours as part of a wider process of developing a new design.

President William Ruto, who unveiled the new uniforms at the National Police College in Kiganjo on Friday, also described the attire as a product of consultations contained in the police reform process.

“The graduating officers will be the first to wear the new uniform,” Ruto said, announcing that it would subsequently be rolled out progressively to General Duty officers.

But there is a crucial legal wrinkle to the Government’s invocation of the Maraga task force.

The High Court did not declare the entire Maraga task force unconstitutional, contrary to a possible reading of the ruling.

In Benjamin v Attorney General & six others; Maraga & 23 others (Interested Parties), Justice Bahati Mwamuye in April 2025 found that some of the task force’s terms of reference encroached on the constitutional mandate of the National Police Service Commission.

The court specifically held that terms dealing with reviewing and recommending improvements to police terms and conditions of service, welfare and related matters fell within the NPSC’s mandate.

It declared the decision establishing the task force unconstitutional only to the extent that it conferred those specific functions on the task force, and further declared that recommendations resulting from those three terms of reference were unconstitutional, null and void.

The ruling therefore did not wipe out every recommendation made by the Maraga team.

Indeed, the task force had broader terms of reference concerning legal, policy, administrative, institutional and operational reforms, areas the court recognised were not necessarily confined to the NPSC’s constitutional mandate.

On uniforms specifically, the Maraga team had recommended the establishment of a National Uniforms Committee to approve standards, colours and quality of uniforms for disciplined and security services.

It also recommended that the NPS revert to its former uniform colours while work began on a new design.

This distinction now sits at the heart of the unfolding uniform saga: while the NPS is relying on the broader police reform process to explain why the new attire was introduced, the court ruling places constitutional limits on which Maraga task force recommendations can lawfully be relied upon.

For the NPS, however, the procurement itself remains above board.

The Service said it welcomes scrutiny of public procurement but insisted that such scrutiny must be based on accurate and verifiable information.

As officers begin wearing the new light-blue shirts and dark navy trousers from tomorrow, the uniform debate is therefore shifting from the question of who made it to the bigger questions of how the contract was awarded, how much taxpayers will ultimately pay and which recommendations of the Maraga reforms remain legally enforceable.

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The national carrier beat major continental rivals to retain the top award during the 33rd World Travel Awards Africa and Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony held in Zanzibar, Tanzania, on Friday, August 28.

KQ was also named Africa’s Leading Airline Economy Class 2026, while its flagship Pride Lounge at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport was crowned Africa’s Leading Airline Lounge.

Its inflight magazine, Msafiri, completed the four-award haul after being named Africa’s Leading Inflight Magazine 2026.

The honours recognise different parts of the passenger experience, from the airline’s overall proposition and economy cabin to the airport lounge and the magazine accompanying travellers during their journeys.

The overall airline award is particularly significant for KQ, which has retained the continental title for a third consecutive year, having also won it in 2024 and 2025.

The World Travel Awards listed Air Algérie, EgyptAir, Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, Royal Air Maroc, RwandAir, South African Airways, TAAG Angola Airlines and Tunisair among the nominees for the overall airline category.

Kenya Airways Acting Chief Executive Officer Capt. George Kamal said the recognition reflected the efforts of the airline’s employees and the confidence of its customers and industry partners.

“These awards are an important recognition of the commitment of our people and the confidence placed in Kenya Airways by our customers and industry partners. We are deeply grateful to the travellers and travel professionals whose confidence has made this recognition possible,” Kamal said.

The awards come as the national carrier continues efforts to strengthen its operations and expand its international footprint amid mounting pressures facing the global aviation industry.

Kenya Airways said it currently serves 45 destinations worldwide, including 37 in Africa. Through its membership of the SkyTeam Alliance and partnerships, the carrier gives customers access to more than 1,060 destinations in 173 countries.

KQ Chief Commercial and Customer Officer Julius Thairu said the four awards represented a vote of confidence in the airline’s role in connecting Africa to the rest of the world through its Nairobi hub.

“For Kenya Airways, the four awards are a vote of confidence in the airline’s role in connecting Africa to the world through its Nairobi hub and in the people, service and distinctly African hospitality behind the ‘Pride of Africa’ brand,” Thairu said.

The recognition also extends a strong run for Msafiri, which has now won the Africa’s Leading Inflight Magazine title for five consecutive years.

The publication has held the award since 2022.

The Pride Lounge award, meanwhile, gives KQ recognition beyond its aircraft, highlighting the airport experience it offers passengers travelling through its Nairobi hub.

KQ’s success in the economy-class category also marks a return to the top after EgyptAir won the award in 2025 and Ethiopian Airlines took it in 2024.

Kenya Airways previously won the economy-class title in 2023.

The airline’s latest haul comes against a difficult financial backdrop.

Kenya Airways reported a pre-tax loss of Sh15.92 billion for the first half of 2026, up from Sh12.17 billion during the same period last year.

The carrier has also been grappling with rising fuel costs, aircraft maintenance challenges and shortages of spare parts and engines.

The World Travel Awards recognition therefore offers KQ a significant boost at a time when it is seeking to improve its financial position and strengthen its competitiveness.

The awards were not, however, a clean sweep for Kenya Airways.

Ethiopian Airlines won Africa’s Leading Airline – Business Class, while RwandAir was named Africa’s Leading Cabin Crew.

Julius Nyerere International Airport in Tanzania was also named Africa’s Leading Airport.

Nairobi also emerged a winner, being named Africa’s Leading Business Travel Destination for the eighth consecutive year, further reinforcing the Kenyan capital’s position as a regional aviation and business hub.

For Kenya Airways, the Zanzibar ceremony provided recognition across several points of the passenger journey, from the aircraft cabin and lounge to the magazine and the airline’s wider brand.

The four trophies give the national carrier fresh recognition as it seeks to reinforce its Pride of Africa identity while navigating the financial and operational challenges confronting the airline.

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Principal Secretary for Medical Services Dr Ouma Oluga chaired the sixth Joint Health Cooperation Framework Steering Committee meeting, bringing together senior officials from Kenya and the United States to assess progress in implementing the agreement.

The meeting was attended by US Deputy Chief of Mission Carla Bernini, Head of the Project Management Unit Dr Mohammed Abdi Sheikh and representatives of the Council of Governors, National Treasury and technical partners.

Discussions centred on the transition of US-supported health programmes to greater Kenyan government leadership, with officials reviewing financing arrangements, implementation timelines and measures to minimise risks during the transition.

The programmes covered under the framework include HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, maternal and child health, and preparedness and response to disease outbreaks.

Officials said the objective is to ensure that the programmes remain sustainable as Kenya gradually assumes greater responsibility for financing and managing services previously heavily supported by the United States.

The Kenya-US Health Cooperation Framework was signed in December 2025 under the America First Global Health Strategy.

Under the five-year arrangement, the United States plans to provide up to $1.6 billion in health assistance, while Kenya has committed to increasing domestic health spending by about $850 million as American support declines.

The government has described the agreement as a shift from traditional donor-driven programmes towards a government-to-government model in which Kenya takes greater ownership of its health priorities.

Oluga, who led Kenya’s negotiating team, has strongly defended the agreement, describing it as a major departure from previous arrangements.

“This cooperation framework is quite a departure from the past and will have a lasting impact on health for all,” Oluga said during the signing of the agreement.

“I can confirm we promoted the best interests of our people ensuring critical service certainty as well as alignment with Kenya government agenda in spirit and letter of every paragraph,” he added.

Oluga later described the agreement as the best health deal Kenya had negotiated, saying he had placed his professional reputation behind it.

However, implementation of the framework has faced legal and public scrutiny since it was signed.

The High Court temporarily halted implementation in December 2025 following petitions challenging aspects of the agreement, particularly provisions concerning the sharing and protection of health data.

The petitioners, including Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah and civil society organisations, raised concerns that sensitive information involving Kenyans living with HIV, tuberculosis patients and other healthcare users could be exposed through data-sharing arrangements.

They also argued that the agreement had been entered into without adequate public participation and parliamentary approval.

The Court of Appeal subsequently stayed the High Court’s suspension, allowing preparations for implementation of the framework to continue.

The deal has also generated concerns among county governments, which play a central role in delivering healthcare services under Kenya’s devolved system.

Counties have argued that they need to be adequately involved in the transition because they are responsible for most frontline health services.

At Thursday’s meeting, officials appeared focused on addressing those concerns while keeping the partnership on course.

The discussions included county consultations, co-financing arrangements and transition timelines intended to prevent disruption of essential services as US funding gradually reduces.

Bernini and Kenyan officials also presented the partnership as mutually beneficial, arguing that stronger health systems in Kenya would improve disease surveillance and outbreak preparedness, with benefits extending beyond the country’s borders.

The government maintains that greater domestic financing and leadership will ultimately strengthen Kenya’s health system and reduce dependence on external donors.

But questions over the agreement’s legality, data protection, county participation and Kenya’s ability to meet its increased financial commitments remain unresolved.

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The MPs led by Ruaraka MP T.J. Kajwang’ spoke on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, during a media briefing at the Red Cross Media Centre in Nairobi, where lawmakers demanded clarity over claims that MPs receive TSC employment letters to distribute to jobseekers in their constituencies.

The controversy follows remarks by Wetang’ula that some MPs receive as many as 10 TSC employment letters to assist constituents seeking teaching jobs, with some politicians allegedly selling the opportunities to desperate jobseekers for up to Sh400,000.

Kajwang’ said he had not seen the letters referred to by the Speaker and challenged him to explain their whereabouts.

“I am still looking for those letters. I want to know where they are, and so that I can take them to Ruaraka,” Kajwang’ said.

The Ruaraka legislator further said he would have no problem receiving legitimate employment opportunities for his constituents, arguing that helping jobseekers would earn political goodwill.

“If I could get the letters from wherever quarters and give them to residents of Ruaraka Constituency, they would be happy. They would vote me in,” he said.

Kajwang’ also rejected the suggestion that MPs could be making money by selling employment opportunities.

“If we are selling them, you know we are not cheap people, Bwana. Please, we are not cheap people to sell,” he said.

He challenged Wetang’ula to explain the claims before Parliament, saying MPs would demand answers when the Speaker addresses the matter on the Floor of the House.

“As to whether Speaker Wetang’ula went out there and said what he said, we will wait for him on the Floor to tell us where those letters are. If he is holding them in his office, we will break that door to get those letters,” Kajwang’ said.

Seme MP James Nyikal, who spoke alongside Kajwang’, also distanced himself and fellow Nyanza lawmakers from the alleged arrangement.

“I know for myself, I know for these members, we did not accompany Hon Wetang’ula to State House and were given letters for TSC recruitment,” Nyikal said.

“I think that is the basic answer that we can tell you,” he added.

The allegations have triggered renewed debate over the independence of the TSC and the manner in which public teaching positions are allocated.

Article 237 of the Constitution gives the Commission responsibility for registering trained teachers and recruiting and employing registered teachers.

National Assembly Education Committee chairman Julius Melly has said the committee will not tolerate the sale or political distribution of TSC employment letters and would consider credible complaints and seek evidence.

The controversy comes as thousands of teachers compete for limited opportunities. TSC has advertised 20,000 permanent and pensionable teaching vacancies for Junior Secondary Schools, with applications running from August 18 to August 31, 2026.

The Commission has also advertised 34,016 promotion opportunities.

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Parton died aged 80 in Nashville after a brief battle with cancer, her publicist Marcel Pariseau confirmed.

She died at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones. The type of cancer was not disclosed.

“After bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, Dolly departed her Earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones,” Pariseau said in a statement.

The announcement was delivered by Parton’s nephew and longtime head of security, Bryan Seaver, in a prerecorded video shared on her official social media accounts.

“This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago, before I fully absorbed it as a future reality,” Seaver said, describing the moment as an “honour that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness.”

“But sadness lies with us, not with Dolly,” he added.

“Dolly has lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus.”

Parton leaves behind a career spanning more than six decades and a catalogue that helped define modern country music.

Her songs “Jolene,” “9 to 5” and “I Will Always Love You” became international classics, transcending country music and earning her generations of admirers around the world.

“I Will Always Love You” later became an enormous global hit for Whitney Houston.

Parton was also celebrated for her ability to turn personal experiences, heartbreak and everyday struggles into songs that connected with millions.

Her success extended beyond music. She became an actress, businesswoman and philanthropist, while her Dollywood theme park in Tennessee became another enduring part of her legacy.

But perhaps her most profound impact was through the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, a literacy programme that has distributed hundreds of millions of books to children.

Her charitable work also included support for medical research, including a $1 million donation toward Covid-19 vaccine research.

Tributes began pouring in from across the entertainment industry almost immediately after news of her death.

Beyoncé, who worked with Parton on her Cowboy Carter album, described the late star as the industry’s “north star”.

“Dolly, you were the barometer. The north star. Bold and brilliant. Talented and tenacious,” Beyoncé said, praising Parton for teaching people “how to be uniquely oneself.”

Taylor Swift also expressed shock at the loss, saying: “A world without Dolly doesn’t feel possible, real, or right.”

Swift added that Parton’s generosity and the countless lives she changed meant her “legacy will be an everlasting one.”

Actress Jane Fonda, Parton’s co-star in 9 to 5 and a longtime friend, said she was devastated by the news.

“More than anyone I have ever known, Dolly will always be with us because she was so present, so powerful, so generous and playful that she is woven into all our lives and hearts forever,” Fonda said.

US President Donald Trump also paid tribute, calling Parton’s death a true loss for millions of people.

“There has never been anyone like her, and never will,” Trump said.

The Country Music Hall of Fame also mourned the loss, with its chief executive Kyle Young describing Parton’s legacy as one of “humanity”.

“She was a champion of equality and literacy,” Young said, adding that Parton “shared her fortunes for the good of all of us, and shared her soul in every note she sang.”

Parton’s family has requested that the funeral remain a small, private service attended only by immediate family.

Fans and friends have instead been encouraged to share memories and tributes celebrating her extraordinary life.

As the world says goodbye, Parton’s music will continue to speak across generations.

From the haunting jealousy of “Jolene” to the workplace anthem “9 to 5” and the timeless farewell of “I Will Always Love You”, her voice remains woven into popular culture.

Her death marks the end of an era, but the songs, stories, laughter and generosity that made Dolly Parton a global icon are likely to endure for generations.

Rest in peace, Dolly Parton. Your music will always be loved.

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Sakaja, however, stopped short of announcing a political defection, saying he is still consulting and weighing his options before making a final decision on the party he will use to defend his Nairobi seat.

Speaking during an interview with Radio Citizen on Wednesday, August 26, the governor acknowledged that he had held discussions with various groups linked to ODM, including youth, women leaders and Members of Parliament.

“There has been that call. Some officials and party members have said that they want me to move to their party. I have had meetings with the youths who met the other day; women leaders and MPs were also present; you can’t ignore that,” Sakaja said.

The governor said he was taking the calls seriously but maintained that there was no official date for his departure from UDA.

“There is no official date for when we will leave UDA, but the call is there. It is something I am observing, we must also look at what people are saying. If that’s what they want then I am their employee,” he said.

Sakaja linked the renewed speculation over his possible move to ODM to his close relationship with the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who died in October 2025.

The governor described Raila as a father figure and said the former ODM leader had also wanted him to join the party before his death.

“In October, we will be marking one year since Raila left us and we were very close, he was like my father, and he also wanted that (to join). We were in touch a lot before his death,” Sakaja said.

The remarks come amid intensified political realignments in Nairobi ahead of the 2027 elections, with ODM leaders openly courting the governor.

In July, ODM Director of Elections and Suna East MP Junet Mohamed told Sakaja to join the party if he wanted its backing for a second term, arguing that ODM remained a dominant political force in Nairobi.

Sakaja was elected governor in 2022 on a UDA ticket and has since worked closely with President William Ruto’s administration. He has also repeatedly expressed his intention to defend his seat in 2027.

The governor said political decisions must also take into account continuity in governance, arguing that frequent political transitions can disrupt development programmes.

His latest remarks came a day after former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua claimed Sakaja was considering moving to ODM, saying the ruling UDA was losing key political figures.

For now, Sakaja remains a UDA member, leaving his next political move as one of the key questions likely to shape the battle for Nairobi ahead of the 2027 polls.

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The commission said the suspects were arrested on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, as part of investigations into allegations of conflict of interest, unlawful acquisition of public property, money laundering and dealing with proceeds of crime involving Sh92,058,890.30.

The suspects are Betty Emathe Asimit, a Senior Assistant Community Health Officer at the Turkana County Government; Moses Long’ole Apua, director of Apuco Holdings Group Limited; and Chosi Nick Nakucho, an employee of Mary’s Meals Kenya.

They are expected to be arraigned before the Anti-Corruption Court in Eldoret on Thursday, August 27, 2026.

According to EACC, its investigations established that Peter Long’ole Apua, a Principal Finance Officer and Principal Accountant at the Turkana County Government, was a signatory to the bank account of Apuco Holdings Group Limited.

The commission said Apua also participated in the processing and validation of payments made to the company, which received Sh62,047,757.30 from the county government.

Separately, EACC said investigations established that Lilian Akiru Louruka, an employee of the Turkana County Government and director of Natitlila Company Limited, used the company to secure five contracts from the county government valued at Sh30,011,133.

“The investigations further established that funds paid to the two companies were subsequently withdrawn in cash, in transactions suspected to have been intended to conceal the movement and ultimate beneficiaries of the funds,” EACC said.

The commission said the companies received the combined Sh92,058,890.30 between the 2013/2014 and 2024/2025 financial years.

EACC said it had earlier forwarded the inquiry file to the Director of Public Prosecutions, who approved prosecution of eight public officials, companies and company directors.

The commission has directed five other suspects to immediately present themselves at its North Rift Regional Office in Eldoret or the nearest EACC office for processing.

They are Peter Long’ole Apua, Christopher Imuron Apua, Nicholas Lotit Korobe, Julius Ayapan Adir and Lilian Akiru Louruka.

EACC said that in addition to criminal proceedings, it will pursue the recovery and forfeiture of public funds and assets established to have been acquired through corrupt conduct or other unlawful means.

“EACC remains committed to safeguarding public resources and ensuring that public officers entrusted with public funds are held accountable where they abuse their positions for private benefit,” the commission said.

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Gachagua claimed on Wednesday that South Korean company Miru Systems Co. Ltd had effectively been selected to supply Kenya’s Integrated Elections Management System (IEMS), despite the procurement process remaining open.

The tender, referenced as IEBC/OIT/01/2026-2027, was advertised by IEBC on August 11 and is scheduled to close on September 1, 2026, at 10am.

“What Kenyans do not know is that the tender process and result has already been pre-conceived and is awaiting rubber stamping to MIRU SYSTEMS CO. LTD of South Korea,” Gachagua alleged.

He made the remarks while addressing the media before travelling to the United States, where he is expected to spend about eight weeks.

Gachagua accused the commission, led by Chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon, of conducting what he described as a sham procurement process designed to create an appearance of competition among bidders.

He questioned how the technical specifications for the tender were developed and whether they had been tailored to favour Miru Systems.

“Can IEBC produce documentary evidence showing who drafted the technical specifications for Tender No. IEBC/OIT/01/2026–2027, including all internal committee minutes, technical working papers, market surveys, and approval records?” he asked.

The DCP leader also alleged that changes had been made within the IEBC procurement department to facilitate the process, claiming the commission’s procurement manager had been removed and replaced with an individual he described as a “puppet”.

Gachagua further questioned whether the commission had undertaken adequate market research to determine how many companies could meet the tender’s mandatory technical requirements.

He raised concerns about Miru Systems’ record in other countries, citing alleged problems involving election technology supplied in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Philippines and Iraq’s Kurdistan region.

“This company should be banned and never allowed to manage any election or supply its equipment and technology,” he said.

Gachagua warned that changing Kenya’s election management technology less than a year before the 2027 polls could undermine public confidence in the electoral process.

“Vulnerable and defective electoral voting technology threatens electoral transparency and the credibility of an electoral process,” he said.

He further claimed that replacing the existing election technology with Miru’s system could expose the voter register to manipulation during the transfer of data.

“The real mischief of IEBC is to interfere with the voter register during the transfer of data from the Smartmatic KIEMS kits to the Miru Technologies Kits,” Gachagua claimed.

He alleged that such a move could result in voter suppression and manipulation of the 2027 election.

Gachagua’s allegations had not been independently substantiated as of Wednesday, while the procurement process remains open ahead of the September 1 deadline.

IEBC’s separate tender for ballot papers, tactile folders, the Register of Voters and statutory election result declaration forms is also scheduled to close on September 1, but at noon.

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