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By Hadrine Joyce | September 20, 2026

Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and three other East African countries are testing a new airspace system that could allow airlines to use shorter and more direct flight routes across the region.

The initiative, known as Free Route Airspace (FRA), allows airlines to plan flexible routes between destinations instead of following predetermined airways.

According to The EastAfrican, trials are expected to continue until December, with the system targeted for full operation in East Africa at the beginning of 2027.

The new system could help airlines reduce fuel consumption, flight times and operational costs. The African Airlines Association has also said the initiative could contribute to lower aviation-related emissions.

Currently, aircraft operating in the region often have to follow fixed routes, which can result in longer journeys and higher fuel consumption.

The development is expected to have implications for major regional aviation hubs, including Nairobi, Entebbe and Dar es Salaam.

Source: The EastAfrican, September 20, 2026.

By Hadrine Joyce | September 20, 2026

The Kenya Meteorological Department has warned residents in several parts of the country to expect rainfall and cold, cloudy conditions between Sunday, September 20 and Thursday, September 24, 2026.

The forecast indicates that Nairobi, Kiambu, Kajiado, Murang’a, Nyeri and Nyandarua are among the areas likely to experience intermittent rainfall and cloudy conditions. Coastal counties, including Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi and Lamu, are also expected to receive showers.

In Nairobi, light rainfall is expected mainly during the mornings on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, followed by possible afternoon showers. Temperatures are expected to range between 14°C and 28°C during the five-day period.

The weather advisory is particularly important for motorists, pedestrians and residents in areas prone to flooding. Members of the public are advised to remain alert during periods of heavy rainfall.

The meteorological forecast covers the period from September 20 to September 24, 2026.

Source: Kenya Meteorological Department, as reported by Kenyans.co.ke.

Photo credit:The Star Kenya

NAIROBI, September 18, 2026

The Kenya Shilling remained stable against major international and regional currencies during the week ending September 17, even as remittance inflows increased by six percent in August 2026.According to the Central Bank of Kenya’s weekly bulletin, the Shilling exchanged at KSh129.62 per US dollar on September 17, compared with KSh129.45 on September 10.The CBK said foreign exchange reserves remained adequate at 10.088 billion US dollars, equivalent to 6.1 months of import cover, exceeding the statutory requirement of at least four months.Meanwhile, remittance inflows increased to 451.8 million US dollars in August 2026, up from 426.1 million dollars recorded in August 2025, representing a 6 percent increase.However, cumulative remittances for the 12 months to August 2026 declined by 1.3 percent to 5.013 billion dollars, compared with 5.079 billion dollars recorded during a similar period in 2025.In the government securities market, the Treasury bill auction held on September 17 attracted bids worth 42.7 billion shillings against an advertised amount of 28 billion shillings, representing a performance rate of 152.6 percent.The CBK also reported that a Treasury bond auction held on September 16 received bids totaling 81.4 billion shillings against an advertised 60 billion shillings, representing a performance rate of 135.7 percent.The Nairobi Securities Exchange, however, recorded declines during the week. The NSE All Share Index fell by 4.96 percent, while the NSE 25 and NSE 20 indices declined by 5.85 percent and 6.47 percent, respectively.The bulletin further reported that inflationary pressures remained a concern globally. United Kingdom headline inflation rose to 3.1 percent in August 2026, while the US Federal Reserve raised its federal funds target range by 25 basis points to between 3.75 and 4 percent.International commodity markets also recorded mixed movements, with Murban crude oil prices declining to 94.70 US dollars per barrel, while gold prices increased to 4,340.09 dollars per ounce.

Source: Central Bank of Kenya Weekly Bulletin, September 18, 2026.

NAIROBI, September 18, 2026

The Kenya Shilling remained relatively stable against major international and regional currencies, according to the latest exchange rates released by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK).The CBK’s daily exchange rates for September 18 show that the US dollar was trading at KSh129.61, while the Sterling Pound stood at KSh173.30.The Euro was quoted at KSh148.90, while 100 Japanese Yen exchanged at KSh83.25.On the regional market, the Kenya Shilling exchanged at KSh30.36 against the Ugandan Shilling, KSh20.40 against the Tanzanian Shilling, and KSh11.36 against the Rwandan Franc.The South African Rand was quoted at KSh7.97.The exchange rates provide an indication of the value of the Kenya Shilling against selected international and regional currencies and are used as a reference by businesses, financial institutions and other market participants.The latest figures come as the CBK continues to monitor developments in the foreign exchange market and the wider economy.Source: Central Bank of Kenya

Kenya continues to face a high number of cyber threats targeting digital systems and internet users.
Data reported by The Star, citing Communications Authority figures, showed that more than 3.3 billion cyber threats were detected between January and March 2026. System attacks accounted for the largest share, followed by malware and brute-force attacks.
The figures highlight the importance of protecting personal information online. Internet users are encouraged to use strong passwords, update their devices and avoid suspicious links and messages.

The Vihiga County Government has increased preparations ahead of the expected El Niño rains.
County officials have mapped areas considered vulnerable to flooding and landslides to allow for faster response. The county has also ordered medicines for rain-related and waterborne diseases such as malaria, typhoid and cholera.
Residents have been advised to avoid travelling at night during heavy rains and to stay away from flooded roads and other dangerous areas.

Nairobi has been selected to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships, making it the first African city to stage the competition.
The announcement was made by World Athletics on September 15 following a council meeting in Budapest. The championships are expected to be held at Kasarani Stadium, which is undergoing renovations.
Kenya has previously hosted major athletics events, including the World U18 Championships in 2017 and the World U20 Championships in 2021.

Four people have died and at least 22 others sustained serious burns following a fuel tanker explosion along the Eldoret-Webuye highway.
The incident happened at Kipkaren village after a fuel tanker collided with a saloon car and spilled petrol onto the road. People who rushed to the scene to collect the spilled fuel were caught by the flames when the petrol ignited.
Several survivors were taken to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret and Webuye Sub-County Hospital for treatment. Hospital officials said some of the victims required intensive care.

Residents and environmental groups took part in cleanup activities in Kibera, Nairobi, as part of efforts to create awareness about environmental pollution. Participants collected plastic, metal and glass waste from the area.
The activity focused on encouraging communities to take responsibility for proper waste management and keeping their surroundings clean. World Cleanup Day 2026 is focusing globally on reducing food waste and promoting cleaner cities.

A 29-year-old Harare woman, Sharlene Rutendo Munenga, has been arrested and remanded in custody after allegedly biting her husband’s testicle during a dispute over a suspected affair at their Dzivarasekwa home on September 9. According to court reports, Munenga confronted her 33-year-old husband Munyaradzi Pondi over infidelity claims, and the argument turned violent, leaving him with serious injuries that required hospitalization.

She appeared before Magistrate Ruth Moyo charged with physical abuse under the Domestic Violence Act, with the State expected to present a medical affidavit, as the case awaits a bail hearing.