NAIROBI DAILY - 13 MARCH 2026
RUTO SIGNS COFFEE ACT AND METEOROLOGY ACT; UDA PRIMARIES SET FOR 18 COUNTIES; DCI ARRESTS TWO IN RUNDA STOLEN PHONE OPERATION
INTERPOL Operation Synergia III arrests 94 suspects and shuts down 45,000 malicious servers globally
Capital FM reports INTERPOL-led Operation Synergia III resulted in 94 arrests and takedown of over 45,000 malicious internet addresses across 72 countries in global cybercrime crackdown; Kenya's participation in operation not specified.
President Ruto signs three bills including Meteorology Act establishing Kenya Meteorological Service Authority
KBC reports President Ruto assented to Miscellaneous Fees and Levies Amendment Act 2026, Coffee Act 2023 Mediated Version, and Meteorology Act 2023 establishing Kenya Meteorological Service Authority to regulate weather services and align Kenya with ICAO standards.
EACC cites 67 ongoing corruption investigations targeting NG-CDF officials in Western Kenya
Capital FM reports EACC warned NG-CDF managers against corruption while disclosing 67 ongoing investigations across constituencies in Western Kenya; EACC Vice Chairperson urged county administrations to strengthen transparency and accountability systems.
DRIVING THE DAY
SUMMARY: President RUTO on 13 March assented to three key bills including the Coffee Act 2023 (Mediated Version), which transfers regulatory and commercial functions from the Agriculture and Food Authority to the Coffee Board of Kenya, and the Meteorology Act 2023, establishing the Kenya Meteorological Service Authority in alignment with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards. United Democratic Alliance (UDA) confirmed preparations are complete for party primaries in 18 counties, signaling Kenya Kwanza coalition internal positioning ahead of the 2027 general election. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) arrested two suspects in Runda's Githogoro area in a late-night operation targeting a black-market network dealing in stolen mobile phones. Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) Vice Chairperson Dr. Monica JUMA urged county governments to strengthen transparency and accountability systems in industrial projects, warning corruption is a "snake under the bed" undermining Kenya's development. The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) expressed concern that youth apathy threatens to undermine the Sh1.1 billion mass voter registration exercise beginning 30 March. END SUMMARY.
