The Day the Cabinet Purged the Payroll

Morning headlines were dominated by institutional friction, as the Council of Governors escalated their boycott of the Senate over extortion claims, while KeNHA launched a nationwide enforcement campaign against roadside traders. Simultaneously, the internal collapse of the opposition deepened as ODM leadership moved to expel Secretary General Edwin Sifuna. By midday, editorial priority shifted to Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s overt turn against the administration. Editors highlighted his public criticism of President Ruto’s unfulfilled promises in Northern Kenya and his suggestion of a new alliance with the Sifuna-led ODM faction. In tandem, the government confirmed the repatriation of 27 Kenyans recruited into the Russia-Ukraine war, announcing a high-level diplomatic mission to Moscow. The evening focus centered on a major fiscal intervention following a Cabinet meeting. Media reported the discovery of 4.7 million altered payroll records and the subsequent approval of a Sh4.7 trillion budget for 2026/27, marking a shift toward aggressive administrative and payroll reforms.