Kenya’s healthcare sector and political arena are both facing turbulence, as reported in Thursday’s dailies.
The Star highlights a damning report of “Big Trouble in Kenya’s Top Hospitals”, pointing to deep-rooted issues in the health sector. At the same time, the paper captures political heat with Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka declaring it is “now or never” for the opposition, as the race for State House 2027 begins to take shape. Separately, a fresh row between police chiefs and the National Police Service Commission has thrown the ongoing police recruitment into disarray, raising concerns over security preparedness.
The Daily Nation focuses on a dossier exposing hospitals accused of filing fraudulent claims amounting to nearly Sh10 billion under the Social Health Authority (SHA). Authorities say the bogus claims have since been rejected after scrutiny, but the whistleblower who lifted the lid on the scandal has reportedly lost their job, sparking debate on the protection of informants. Away from the health storm, President William Ruto presented French President Emmanuel Macron with a Kenyan artifact in New York during bilateral talks. The two leaders announced that Kenya and France will co-host the Africa-France Partnerships for Innovation and Growth Summit in Nairobi in May 2026, expected to bring together African and French Heads of State and Government.
Meanwhile, Taifa Leo carries an emotional story of “Kilio cha Familia”, detailing the anguish of the family of Benedict Kabiru Kuria, a Kenyan police officer killed while on peacekeeping duty in Haiti. The family accused the National Police Service of misleading them about his whereabouts, only learning of his death through an official communication days later.