News and Analysis
December 1, 2025
Hello and welcome to the Money News Roundup Newsletter, where we are covering the reintroduction of alcoblow and mobile courts on the roads. We also cover schools that have been exposed for charging fees.
The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), in collaboration with the National Police Traffic Department, has launched a nationwide crackdown on drunk driving and traffic violations ahead of the festive season.
As reported by Citizen Digital, the renewed enforcement campaign will include the return of Alcoblow breathalyzer tests, increased speed monitoring using speed guns, and the reintroduction of mobile courts along major highways.
Traffic Commandant Dr. Frederick Ochieng added that police will intensify night patrols, noting that most fatal crashes occur after dark.
Mobile courts will allow offenders to be charged, convicted, and sentenced on the spot, closing loopholes that often allow violators to evade punishment.
In a new anti-corruption measure, members of the public will be allowed to record and submit videos of traffic officers soliciting or receiving bribes through a toll-free hotline to be displayed on highways and public notice boards.
The new crackdown comes following data showing 3,890 road deaths recorded by October, more than 85 higher than last year.
Earlier in the month, NTSA announced that it would also be retesting drivers found to have contravened traffic rules.
Read Also: NTSA Introduces Sweeping Reforms for Matatus & Taxis
Companies and public institutions created an additional 206,617 formal jobs for Kenyans earning between Ksh50,000 and Ksh100,000 per month over the five years to 2024, making this the fastest-growing pay band, according to data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS).
Workers in this salary category accounted for 43.8% of the 471,191 formal jobs created during the period. Their total number rose from 1.25 million in 2020 to 1.46 million last year, representing a 16.5% increase.
The group now makes up 45.5% of Kenya’s 3.2 million formal workforce, followed by employees earning Ksh30,000 to Ksh49,999, who account for 32.2%.
Private firms generated 69.1% of the new jobs in the Ksh50,000 to Ksh99,999 bracket, with the rest coming from the public sector.
As reported by the Business Daily, most workers in this group are employed in education, public administration and defence, manufacturing, agriculture, and trade, including professionals such as teachers, military officers, bank tellers, and administrative staff.
KNBS data also show faster growth among low-income earners, with employees earning below Ksh30,000 rising by 33.4%, highlighting challenges in creating high-paying jobs amid higher taxes and post-pandemic pressures.
Formal employment, however, remains limited at just 15% of Kenya’s total workforce.
Several public secondary schools have been flagged by the Auditor General for illegally charging parents additional fees and procuring uniforms without approval from the Ministry of Education.
Auditor General Nancy Gathungu cited Loreto Kiambu Girls’ High, Starehe Boys Centre (Nairobi), Shimo la Tewa (Mombasa), St Josephine Bakhita Masinga (Machakos), Thika High School, Jomo Kenyatta Boys High (Nakuru), Mama Ngina Girls (Mombasa), Nakuru Girls’ High, St Anne’s Secondary (Lioki), and Bura Girls High (Taita Taveta).
As reported by Eastleigh Voice, the audit found that some parents were charged between Ksh100,000 and Ksh300,000, with others paying up to Ksh1.2 million for school projects.
At Loreto Kiambu Girls, unapproved fees totalled Ksh1,296,741. At Starehe Boys Centre, parents were charged between Ksh140,000 and Ksh300,000, exceeding the approved Ksh67,244.
The report also flagged illegal uniform procurement, inaccurate student data on NEMIS, and funding losses linked to enrolment discrepancies, raising concerns over governance and compliance in public schools.
Read more: Govt Announces Uniform Fees for All Students in Public Secondary Schools
The COMESA Competition Commission has warned consumers across member states to be cautious while shopping during Black Friday and the festive season, noting that many advertised discounts may be misleading.
As reported by Capital FM, the Commission cautioned that some retailers inflate prices ahead of sales to create the illusion of large discounts, while others may sell counterfeit or unsafe products.
Consumers also face risks from strict no-return policies, impulse buying tactics, phishing scams, and fake online platforms.
“Many discounts advertised during this period are not genuine,” said Steven Kamukama, COMESA’s Director of Consumer Welfare and Advocacy. He warned that false advertising and the sale of counterfeit goods breach COMESA Competition Regulations.
The Commission urged shoppers to compare prices, verify product quality, buy from trusted sellers, and report violations to relevant authorities.
Read more: 10 Mega Holiday Discounts You Must Take Advantage of Now
Erroneous payments to health facilities have exposed deep policy, financial, and operational weaknesses threatening the rollout of the Social Health Authority (SHA), a new report by the National Assembly Committee on Health shows.
As in Eastleigh Voice, the committee cited Nyeri County Referral Hospital, which lost more than Ksh16 million to a neighbouring private hospital due to payment processing errors, with recovery efforts failing.
The committee, chaired by Seme MP James Nyikal, says reimbursements under SHA remain inconsistent, with some hospitals yet to receive any payments. A large backlog of unpaid claims inherited from the defunct NHIF continues to strain hospitals’ finances.
The committee also flagged high claim rejection rates, unclear resubmission processes, and delayed feedback beyond legally required timelines. Reliance on automated claim reviews without adequate human oversight has led to unjustified denials.
Frequent system outages, biometric registration challenges, and failure to establish a claims management office have worsened inefficiencies, while weak coordination among oversight agencies has undermined effective implementation of SHA.
Read more: 11 SHA Benefits Teachers & Their Families Will Enjoy Beginning This Month
Thousands of Kenyans who have paid for electricity connections remain without power due to shortages of critical kits such as meters, according to Kenya Power’s report for the year ended June 2025.
The utility said 16,422 customers have been affected, some waiting for over 20 years. An audit by Auditor-General Nancy Gathungu shows works in progress worth Ksh12.7 billion, with 7,740 projects yet to start despite customers paying about Ksh887.8 million.
As reported by Nation, Kenya Power blamed delays on non-availability of materials, wayleave challenges, and prolonged court cases that stalled procurement.
While electricity sales rose 8.4 percent, revenues fell to Ksh219.28 billion. The company is seeking alternative procurement methods to speed up connections.
Read Also: All You Need to Know About Life Insurance in Kenya
Insurers paid out Ksh175.2 billion in claims in the nine months to September, a 24.6% increase from Ksh140.6 billion a year earlier, driven by a sharp rise in filed claims.
Data from the Insurance Regulatory Authority shows the number of claims surged 67.2% to 12.9 million cases. General liability payouts rose to Ksh16.3 billion, while non-liability claims increased to Ksh67.1 billion. Long-term insurers paid Ksh91.8 billion, up from Ksh68.7 billion, reflecting higher obligations in life, pension, and investment-linked products.
As reported by the Business Daily, the surge highlights rising risks from higher medical and repair costs, increased usage, and growing fraud. Insurers are strengthening fraud detection, adopting digital claims platforms, and reassessing cover terms, especially in high-risk motor and medical insurance segments.
Importers in Kenya will face higher shipping costs after global shipping firm Maersk introduced a new Operational Cost Imports (OCI) fee on containers arriving from all origins.
The surcharge, added on top of regular freight charges, applies to both dry and refrigerated containers. A 20-foot dry container attracts a Ksh2,330 (USD 18) fee, while 40-foot and 45-foot units incur Ksh4,270 (USD33).
Refrigerated containers are charged up to Ksh5,562 (US$43). Maersk says the fee covers rising costs linked to container inspections, security checks, and regulatory compliance.
As reported by Kenyans Wallstreet, industry players warn that the surcharge could raise import costs, weaken Kenya’s trade competitiveness, and push consumer prices higher, especially in retail, manufacturing, and cold-chain sectors.
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