On Thursday, November 27, local dailies focused on the by-elections as polling stations opened nationwide, noting the high stakes tied to the 2027 General Election, as parties treat the mini-polls as a political litmus test.
The top stories in Kenyan newspapers on Thursday, November 27. Photos/screengrabs: Daily Nation, The Standard, The Star and Taifa Leo.
Source: UGC1. Daily NationAs per the publication, former Kesses MP Swarup Mishra is facing fresh turmoil after auctioneers listed several of his high-value Eldoret properties for sale over mounting loan arrears.
The assets, tied to his Mediheal medical empire, are scheduled for auction on December 10, 2025, marking another blow to the embattled politician who is already fighting allegations of human organ trafficking linked to his hospital facilities.
The new list includes a sizeable parcel registered under Mediheal Hospital and Fertility Centre, a second lot hosting a five-storey hospital block and a double-storey pharmacy and lab, and a residential maisonette registered under Mishra and his wife Pallavi.
More land in Kipkorgot, Mogobich, Pioneer, and Ngeria is also headed for sale, signalling deepening financial strain.
The dispute had previously been paused by a High Court order, but the renewed push to auction the properties now raises fresh questions about Mishra’s financial footing and legal troubles.
2. The StandardAs per the daily, Trans Nzoia governor George Natembeya said the government has withdrawn all security officers assigned to him, calling the move an attempt to silence his sharp criticism of President William Ruto’s administration.
He said that officers attached to his official duties and private residences were recalled without explanation, a move he believes is linked to his active role in the Malava and Kabuchai by-election campaigns.
Natembeya accused the president of sanctioning the decision at the highest level, framing it as a calculated effort to frustrate his movements and weaken his political voice.
He warned that the withdrawal signals a broader pattern of intimidation, saying even his official vehicles could be targeted next.
The governor, a vocal critic of the Kenya Kwanza government, said the action reflects the growing tension between his administration and State House, adding that he would not be deterred from speaking out on national leadership issues.
3. The StarAs per the daily, the National Police Service is staring at a credibility crisis after a government report exposed a troubling rise in crimes committed by police officers, even as the country faces mounting insecurity linked to political activity.
The 2025 National Security Report, tabled in parliament by Ruto, shows that while general crime has dropped across most categories, offences involving police officers have continued to climb, raising fresh questions about accountability within the service.
The report shows police-related offences rose to 237 cases, up from 230 the previous year and nearly double the 135 cases reported in 2023.
This spike comes despite declines in break-ins, livestock theft, economic crimes, vehicle theft and drug possession.
Still, the data points to a force under strain, tasked with confronting al-Shabaab, criminal gangs and growing civil unrest, while grappling with internal corruption and a worrying culture of impunity.
The findings further reveal a deep link between political patronage and organised crime.
Unemployed youth, the report says, are being recruited and weaponised by rogue politicians to intimidate rivals, fuelling cycles of violence.
Although overall gang-related arrests dropped by 16.5%, the influence of political actors remains strong, allowing criminal networks to thrive in extortion, muggings, illegal oathing, land fraud and drug trafficking.
The report also highlights shifting gang dynamics. New youth-driven groups like “Team Mbogi” in Nairobi’s Umoja area have emerged, with arrested members as young as 13.
At the same time, arrests linked to notorious groups like Mungiki have fallen sharply, by 94.6%, while others, such as Gaza, Kata Hema and Usiku Sacco, no longer appear in arrest records.
But authorities warn that these groups may be resurfacing under new identities, reorganising to evade detection.
According to the report, political protection is giving gangs the freedom and resources to operate, deepening insecurity and complicating efforts to restore public trust in law enforcement.
4. Taifa LeoThe Swahili publication reports that IEBC chairperson Erastus Ethekon has drawn a firm line, saying no politician will manipulate him or interfere with any election under his watch.
He stressed that neither by-elections nor the 2027 General Election will allow space for fraud, and vowed to rebuild public trust in the electoral body after years of controversy and political suspicion.
Ethekon’s remarks appeared to counter claims from the Opposition, which has alleged plans to rig both the current polls and future ones.
Four months into his tenure, he said the reforms already rolled out are visible in the tone of recent campaigns and in the conduct of party primaries leading up to today’s vote.
He acknowledged the troubled state of the commission he inherited, but said identifying the core challenges was his first step toward fixing them.
Ethekon added that lasting credibility will depend on working closely with political parties, civil society, the media, and other actors as the IEBC seeks to restore confidence in Kenya’s electoral process.
“We inherited a difficult situation, and the first thing we did was to understand and identify the root of the problem. I hope to work with political parties, leaders, civil society groups, the media, and other stakeholders to deliver on my mandate,” he stated. Proofreading by Asher Omondi, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
