Nairobi Intensifies Drainage Clearance Ahead of Expected El Niño Rains
By Hadrine Joyce | September 24, 2026
Nairobi authorities have intensified efforts to clear drainage systems and waterways across the city as preparations continue for anticipated El Niño rains.
The Nairobi Rivers Commission says drainage clearance is underway in several parts of the capital, including Westlands, Eastlands, Starehe and South C. Teams are unclogging drains and clearing waterways to improve stormwater flow and reduce the risk of flooding.
Authorities are also preparing to rehabilitate Nairobi Dam, which officials say has suffered from waste accumulation, encroachment and poor maintenance. The county has identified 227 flood hotspots and established an Emergency Operations Centre and hotline 1508 for residents to report emergencies.
The Nairobi County Government has also deployed additional earth-moving equipment to vulnerable areas and is widening, deepening and desilting drainage channels.
The White House has launched its own 24/7 streaming channel, branded “TRUMP TV: The Essentials Station,” just three days after barring three major news organizations from the White House. The channel went live at 7 p.m. EDT on Monday, September 21 on the White House’s official YouTube channel, promising to show “the Trump Administration’s biggest moments all in one place” with “top videos, major remarks, and must-see highlights streaming 24/7 and updated in real time.” Since then it has looped archival footage of President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance alongside live announcements.
The launch followed a sweeping press crackdown. On Friday, September 18, President Trump announced on Truth Social that CNN, MS NOW and Politico were banned from the White House “effective immediately,” accusing them of constantly reporting “FAKE NEWS” and arguing that outlets “shouldn’t be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES when they’re covering the President.” By Saturday, September 19, reporters from the three outlets were denied entry at the gates, with CNN reporting that correspondent Betsy Klein’s press pass was seized. Trump warned that “Other Fake News Media Outlets to follow.”
The ban triggered an instant backlash from the broader press pool. The TV pool — CBS, NBC, ABC, CNN and Fox News — declined to cover White House events, which left some official streams, including a helipad unveiling, without audio because no pool crew was present to provide a microphone. California Governor Gavin Newsom called the new channel “quite literally state-run TV,” saying “First, Trump banned independent news from the White House. Now, he’s launching what is quite literally state-run TV.”
The Department of Justice has defended the move, stating that White House access is a “privilege — not a right” and citing national security concerns. Meanwhile, CNN, Politico and MS NOW have filed a joint federal lawsuit in Washington, D.C., alleging First Amendment and due process violations. President Trump said Tuesday he would “probably” comply if a judge orders the ban reversed.
Trump TV is now featured on the White House website under “White House Live” and is also being promoted on the White House’s X account. It remains unclear if the service will expand beyond YouTube or permanently replace independent pool coverage, but it marks the first time the White House has operated a branded 24-hour channel while simultaneously excluding major independent outlets from the building.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Wednesday that Tehran would never surrender to the United States but remains committed to diplomacy, striking a defiant yet measured tone at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. His remarks came just a day after US President Donald Trump used the same podium to threaten to “annihilate” Iran if it continues its current course, escalating the war of words between the two longtime adversaries.
The dueling speeches bookended the first US-Iran shuttle talks in months, held on the sidelines of the UNGA, but the public statements from both leaders suggested little movement toward ending the wider Middle East war. While Trump leaned into a hardline warning, Pezeshkian framed Iran as a nation under pressure but unwilling to capitulate, insisting that diplomacy — not force — remains the only viable path forward.
In a striking moment during his address, Pezeshkian held up photographs of schoolchildren from Minab he said were killed in joint US-Israel strikes, in an apparent effort to highlight the civilian cost of the conflict. The images drew audible reaction in the hall as he accused Washington and its ally of targeting innocent civilians under the banner of security.
With neither side signaling any public concession, the annual gathering at the UN has instead underscored how deeply entrenched the standoff remains.
India’s state-owned Engineers India Limited has secured a contract worth more than $450 million to provide project-management and engineering services for Dangote Group’s planned oil refinery and petrochemical complex in Lamu, Kenya.
The contract is a major step in the development of the proposed 700,000-barrel-per-day facility, which Dangote plans to build in the Lamu Special Economic Zone on Kenya’s Indian Ocean coast.
Engineers India will provide project-management consultancy as well as engineering, procurement and construction-management services. Its responsibilities will include coordinating project execution and monitoring construction schedules, costs, quality and safety.
The contract comes ahead of a planned groundbreaking ceremony at the project site on September 30.
The proposed refinery is expected to require an investment of roughly $15 billion to $17 billion, making it one of the largest proposed industrial projects in East Africa.
Dangote’s investment is intended to create a major refining and petrochemical hub serving Kenya and other markets in the region. The facility’s location near the Port of Lamu could also support the import of crude oil and the export of refined petroleum products.
The project nevertheless faces several challenges.
One of the key issues is securing a reliable supply of crude oil. Kenya does not currently produce crude on a commercial scale, meaning the refinery would need to depend on imports or supplies from other oil-producing countries in the region.
Infrastructure and financing will also be important to the project’s development because of its scale and the supporting facilities required.
Engineers India’s involvement builds on its previous relationship with Dangote. The Indian company was also involved in project-management and engineering work for Dangote’s refinery in Nigeria.
If construction proceeds as planned, the Lamu facility would significantly expand Kenya’s petroleum-processing capacity and could alter fuel-supply patterns across East Africa.
The next major milestone is expected to be the September 30 groundbreaking ceremony, which would formally move the project from planning toward construction.
Business activity across the eurozone accelerated unexpectedly in September, reaching its strongest level in more than three years despite higher energy costs and continuing geopolitical uncertainty.
The S&P Global flash Eurozone Composite PMI rose to 53.1 from 52.0 in August, marking its strongest reading since April 2023. Economists surveyed by Reuters had expected the index to decline to 51.7.
Growth was supported by both manufacturing and services. The services PMI climbed to 53.0 from 51.6, while manufacturing remained in expansion territory at 52.7.
New orders also increased at their fastest pace in more than four years. Stronger export demand contributed to the improvement, giving businesses across the currency bloc a boost after a prolonged period of weak economic growth.
Germany, Europe’s largest economy, recorded solid expansion, while France also experienced stronger business activity. France’s services sector helped push overall activity to its fastest rate in more than two years.
The stronger performance comes as European companies contend with increased energy and input costs. Rising energy prices are putting pressure on manufacturers and other energy-intensive businesses, while higher operating costs could eventually feed into consumer prices.
Companies nevertheless continued to hire workers as demand increased.
The data present a mixed picture for the European economy. Stronger orders and business activity point to improving demand, while rising costs could make it more difficult for companies to protect profit margins.
The figures will also be closely watched by the European Central Bank as it assesses economic growth and inflationary pressures.
For businesses across the eurozone, the September survey signals stronger activity but continued exposure to energy prices, geopolitical developments and borrowing costs.
Business activity in the United States accelerated to its strongest pace in more than five years in September, as a surge in new orders lifted both the manufacturing and services sectors.
The S&P Global flash Composite Purchasing Managers’ Index rose to 58.4 this month from 56.0 in August, reaching its highest level since July 2021. A reading above 50 indicates expansion in private-sector activity.
The increase was stronger than economists had anticipated and was supported by a sharp rise in new orders. Manufacturing output also strengthened, while employment in factories increased at its fastest pace since February 2021, according to the survey.
The stronger activity, however, was accompanied by rising costs and supply constraints. Businesses reported longer delivery times and growing backlogs, while input prices increased sharply.
photo courtesy.
S&P Global said the latest survey was consistent with economic growth of around 5% on an annualized basis, although the PMI is a business survey and is not an official measure of gross domestic product.
The combination of stronger demand and higher prices could complicate the outlook for businesses and monetary policymakers. Companies are facing higher costs for inputs and services at a time when demand remains strong.
Financial markets reacted to the data with caution. Reuters reported that the yield on the benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury note rose to its highest level since 2007, while major U.S. stock indexes declined.
The September figures provide evidence that the U.S. private sector continues to expand rapidly, but they also highlight the pressure businesses face from rising costs and constrained supply.
Kenya has long been known for its dominance in long-distance running, but a new generation of young athletes is now stepping into the spotlight. Across training camps in Nairobi and beyond, junior runners are showing incredible discipline, speed, and determination. These athletes are not only aiming for national recognition but also setting their sights on global competitions like the Olympics and World Championships. With better training facilities and mentorship from experienced coaches, the future of Kenyan athletics looks brighter than ever.
For many people, the first thing they reach for in the morning is their phone. Messages, TikTok videos, WhatsApp updates, Instagram posts and news can quickly consume hours of the day. This has created growing interest in digital detoxes—intentional periods when people reduce or completely stop using their digital devices. A simple detox might mean switching off notifications, avoiding social media before bedtime or spending one day without unnecessary screen time. The goal isn’t necessarily to abandon technology, but to create healthier boundaries around its use. For students and young professionals, putting the phone down can also create more time for reading, exercising, talking to friends face-to-face or simply resting. The challenge is obvious: can you really go 24 hours without checking your phone?
Going out alone is no longer something many young people feel embarrassed about. From having coffee to watching a movie, visiting a museum or simply enjoying a meal, solo dates are becoming a form of self-care. For some young Kenyans, spending time alone provides an opportunity to disconnect from the pressure of social media and everyday responsibilities. Instead of waiting for friends to be available, they are choosing to create their own experiences. Psychologists and wellness advocates often encourage people to maintain a healthy relationship with themselves. A solo outing can provide quiet time to reflect, discover personal interests and enjoy activities without worrying about other people’s opinions. For a generation constantly connected to phones and social networks, sometimes the best company can simply be yourself.
NAIROBI — Kenya’s banking sector strengthened its financial position in 2025, with higher customer deposits, stronger profitability and improved asset quality, according to the Central Bank of Kenya’s Bank Supervision Annual Report 2025.
The report shows that total net assets in the banking sector increased by 10.3 per cent, rising from KSh7.57 trillion in December 2024 to KSh8.35 trillion at the end of 2025.
Customer deposits also recorded strong growth, increasing by 11.6 per cent to KSh6.12 trillion, up from KSh5.48 trillion a year earlier. CBK attributed the increase largely to deposit mobilisation initiatives by commercial banks.
The sector’s profitability improved significantly during the year. Profit before tax rose by KSh46 billion, or 17.7 per cent, to KSh306.3 billion, compared with KSh260.3 billion in December 2024.
CBK said the increase in profitability was mainly driven by a larger reduction in total expenses, which fell by KSh67.4 billion during the year.
The banking sector also maintained strong capital and liquidity buffers. The total capital adequacy ratio stood at 20.7 per cent in December 2025, comfortably above the regulatory minimum of 14.5 per cent. The average liquidity ratio rose to 59.3 per cent, compared with 55.8 per cent in December 2024 and well above the statutory minimum of 20 per cent.
The report further points to an improvement in asset quality. Gross non-performing loans declined marginally to KSh696.9 billion from KSh697.3 billion, while the ratio of gross non-performing loans to gross loans fell from 17.1 per cent to 16.0 per cent. CBK attributed the improvement to repayments, recoveries and increased new lending.
