News and Analysis
September 4, 2026
Hello and welcome to the Money News Roundup Newsletter. Today, we cover the new design changes for the Nairobi-Mau Summit Road. We also cover the response by Tata Chemicals after the government's order on their shutdown.
Design changes on the Ksh183.7 billion Rironi-Nakuru-Mau Summit toll road have forced the government to begin emergency land acquisitions, raising the prospect of higher project costs.
The Business Daily, which spoke to Ministry of Transport officials, reported that contractors have introduced additional interchanges, bridges and underpasses that were not included in the original design.
To avoid delays, the State has adopted an “early entry” approach, allowing access to land before compensation is fully completed.
The National Land Commission has identified about 25 hectares for compulsory acquisition in Kiambu, Nakuru and Nyandarua counties, including sections in Kijabe, Limuru, Kirenga and Naivasha.
Officials said the final cost implications will only be known after land valuations are completed. The government had previously budgeted Ksh816 million for compensation linked to the highway expansion.
The project targets completion of the Rironi-Naivasha section by December 2026 and the entire corridor by June 2027. The highway is a key link in the Northern Corridor serving East and Central Africa.
State House expenditure rose to a record Ksh18.55 billion in the 2025/26 financial year, more than double its original Ksh8.5 billion allocation, according to the Controller of Budget. The report shows Ksh6.73 billion was recorded under “other expenses”, a category often used for confidential or unclassified spending.
As reported by Citizen Digital, the additional spending was approved after the Treasury authorised extra expenditure under Article 223 of the Constitution.
The report also shows the National Treasury spent Ksh12.62 billion on emergency security operations, exceeding the National Police Service’s Ksh11.39 billion.
Meanwhile, Kenya’s public debt increased by 10% to Ksh13.01 trillion in June 2026, while debt servicing costs rose to Ksh1.77 trillion during the financial year.
President William Ruto has said Kenya will stop exporting raw minerals and instead focus on local processing to create jobs and increase export earnings.
As reported by the Star, the President said minerals such as gold, limestone, iron ore, graphite, titanium and soda ash should be processed within the country before export.
The President also defended the removal of Tata Chemicals from Lake Magadi operations, arguing Kenya was not getting sufficient value from exporting raw materials.
Meanwhile, as reported by Nation, the Kenya Chamber of Mines has warned that the dispute between the government and Tata Chemicals Magadi could become a key test of Kenya’s investment climate. The lobby said investors and financiers are closely watching how the matter is resolved, as it will influence perceptions of the country’s regulatory predictability.
Tata Chemicals said it submitted all required documents to the Ministry of Mining on August 11 and considers itself compliant with regulations. The company said it is awaiting feedback while pursuing a resolution through legal and regulatory channels.
Centum CEO James Mworia Mwirigi has been appointed as the founding Chief Executive Officer of the National Infrastructure Fund (NIF), effective September 7, 2026.
As reported by the People Daily, transitioning from his role as an independent director after just two months, Mworia secured the executive position through a competitive recruitment process.
Under Section 17 of the National Infrastructure Fund Act, 2026, becoming an employee of the Fund terminates his board seat. He brings 25 years of investment experience, including 17 years as CEO of Centum Investment Company Plc.
Mworia will now lead the state-backed institution in building an investable project pipeline, mobilising private capital, and reducing public debt reliance across transport, energy, ICT, water, and agriculture sectors.
RUPSA Regulated NWDT SACCO Society has moved to court seeking to stop the liquidation of KUSCCO, arguing the process violates existing court orders preserving the cooperative’s assets.
As reported by the Business Daily, the High Court certified the application as urgent and directed affected parties to respond before a September 8 hearing.
RUPSA wants the court to suspend implementation of a gazette notice that dissolved KUSCCO and appointed liquidators, saying it was issued while preservation orders remained in force.
The SACCO is also seeking an independent provisional liquidator, citing concerns over Ksh6.27 billion in intercompany transactions, Ksh6.17 billion owed to SACCO creditors and the independence of the liquidation process.
A court has ruled that being the only son in a family does not give a person exclusive rights to administer a parent’s estate, reaffirming that sons and daughters have equal standing under succession law.
As reported by Nation, Malaba Resident Magistrate Antoinette Ogange Zowade rejected Samwel Gitau’s application to become the sole administrator of his father Grishom Kitai’s estate based on his status as the only male child. Instead, the court appointed him joint administrator alongside Joyce Nekesa.
The magistrate said the Law of Succession Act does not grant special entitlement based on gender and gives courts discretion in appointing administrators. The court directed the two administrators to move the succession process forward and return on October 7, 2026.
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