Kenya Airways is facing a significant challenge as its pilots, represented by the Kenya Airline Pilots Association (KALPA), have gone on strike, leading to the cancellation of several flights and stranding thousands of passengers. The strike began on Saturday after negotiations between KALPA and Kenya Airways (KQ) failed to produce an agreement. The Transport Cabinet Secretary, Kipchumba Murkomen, described the strike as economic sabotage, especially during economic hardships and drought. Despite the airline's willingness to negotiate, KALPA proceeded with the strike, which is estimated to cost KQ Sh300 million daily. The government is considering restructuring the airline to prevent future disruptions. Both KQ and KALPA have apologized to passengers for the inconvenience caused by the strike.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua of Kenya has stated that the government will not abolish the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC), but instead aims to strengthen it. A 42-member taskforce, chaired by Prof Raphael Munavu, has been established by President William Ruto to review the CBC and the state of education in Kenya. The taskforce will evaluate the CBC, suggest improvements, and review education laws to address any issues. They will report bi-monthly to the President and present their final report in six months. The CBC is designed to better align education with the labor market, and the taskforce will also look into various aspects of education, including assessment frameworks, teacher training, technology use, governance, and infrastructure development.

A robbery attempt at Equity Bank's Nairobi West Branch was foiled when a lone assailant, armed with a knife, was shot by police. The incident occurred on Tuesday at around 11:04 AM. The attacker stabbed two security guards and a customer before being confronted by police. Despite being urged to surrender, the assailant charged at an officer, leading to him being shot and disarmed. The injured parties, including the robber, are receiving medical treatment at local hospitals. Witnesses reported hearing screams and gunshots. The bank was closed for investigation, with detectives and Cyber Crime officers examining the scene and reviewing CCTV footage to determine if the assailant had accomplices.

The US Embassy in Nairobi has made changes to its Visa application process in response to Kenyan dissatisfaction with the previous system. Ambassador Meg Whitman announced the expansion of the Interview Waiver Program for certain nonimmigrant visas, allowing renewals without an interview if the visa has not expired more than four years ago. The backlog for visa interview appointments had extended to June 2024, causing significant challenges for Kenyans. The delays were attributed to COVID-19 health and safety measures, with the embassy only resuming full-capacity interviews in February 2022. The embassy has been working through the backlog and has offered expedited appointments for emergency situations.

The article discusses the diplomatic incident at the inauguration of Kenyan President William Ruto, where he initially failed to acknowledge the presence of Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) President Brahim Ghali. Ruto later rescinded Kenya's recognition of SADR and expressed support for the United Nations framework to resolve the Western Sahara dispute. The article traces the history of Kenya's support for SADR, including past diplomatic relations and the opening of a SADR embassy in Nairobi. It also covers the broader context of the Western Sahara conflict, including Morocco's claim to the territory, the role of the Polisario Front, and the stalled UN referendum to determine the region's status. The article includes additional reporting by the Human Security Centre.

Kenyan President William Ruto is set to establish a presidential task force to review the implementation of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), which has significantly changed the country's education system. The task force will gather stakeholder opinions to ensure public participation. Concerns have been raised about the CBC, especially its cost to parents. The Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) will administer three national exams this year, including an assessment for transition to Junior Secondary School (JSS). The CBC's learning structure is designed around seven core competencies and includes a new grading system. Challenges such as inadequate teacher preparation, financial burdens on parents, and poor infrastructure have been identified. Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha has defended the CBC against claims of high costs, emphasizing government funding and the use of local resources to reduce expenses. The CBC aims to phase out the old 8-4-4 system by 2028, with a new structure for secondary education and a focus on STEM, Social Sciences, Sports Science, and Arts sciences.

Wafula Chebukati, the chairperson of Kenya's Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), expressed relief after the Supreme Court upheld the presidential election victory of UDA candidate William Ruto. Chebukati highlighted the IEBC's commitment to lawful and transparent electoral practices, which were validated by the Supreme Court's decision. Despite the successful election, Chebukati reported severe harassment and violence against IEBC staff, including the tragic deaths of two officers and various assaults. He criticized the lack of arrests and condemnation from human rights organizations for these crimes. Chebukati emphasized that working for the IEBC should not be life-threatening.

Raila Odinga, the Azimio La Umoja - One Kenya Alliance presidential candidate, has filed a petition at the Supreme Court of Kenya challenging the results of the August 9 presidential election. Odinga's legal team alleges that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) failed to tally at least 140,000 votes, which they claim invalidates the victory of UDA's William Ruto. Odinga accuses corruption cartels of manipulating the electoral system and asserts that the election results represent a struggle for democracy and good governance. The IEBC is facing internal rifts, with four commissioners distancing themselves from the election results, citing an opaque process, while the chairperson, Wafula Chebukati, defends the transparency of the elections. Odinga warns of the dangers of corruption cartels capturing the government and the detrimental effects it would have on Kenya.

During the election day in Kenya, several polling stations experienced failures with their Kenya Integrated Election Management System (KIEMS) kits, which are crucial for the voting process. The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) had to authorize the use of manual voter registers in affected areas, including Makueni and Kakamega counties. IEBC's ICT teams were deployed to address the technical issues. IEBC Vice Chairperson Juliana Cherera and Commissioner Justus Nyang’aya provided insights into the contingency measures and the extent of the problem, stating that only 200 out of 46,229 kits had failed. The presiding officer at each polling station has the authority to extend voting hours to compensate for any delays caused by these interruptions.

In Kenya, by midday on Tuesday, 6,567,869 million voters had cast their ballots, as reported by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). This number comes from a total of 22,120,458 registered voters, spread across 290 constituencies and 46,229 polling centers, including those in the diaspora from 12 countries. Despite the large number of polling centers, voter apathy was observed. The IEBC, facing issues with the malfunctioning of kiems kits, has allowed the use of manual registers. IEBC Commissioner Molu Boya and Vice Chairperson Juliana Cherera provided updates on the voting process and the handling of technical issues. Only 200 out of 46,229 kiems kits experienced problems. The commission has made provisions for manual voting in certain counties. Results are expected to start coming in by Tuesday evening, but the official announcement will take days.