On Wednesday, December 3, political tensions surged as local dailies highlighted growing unrest within the united opposition and the unfolding impeachment trial of Nyamira governor Amos Nyaribo that is set to begin in the Senate.
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The top stories in Kenyan newspapers on Wednesday, December 3. Photos/screengrabs: Daily Nation, The Standard, The Star and Taifa Leo.
Source: UGC1. Daily NationThe paper reports on the tense rescue effort in Makongeni, Nairobi, after a concrete slab collapsed, killing two people and leaving others trapped beneath the debris.
Authorities said the tragedy happened shortly after the demolition of buildings to clear space for a government housing project, even though the area should have been off-limits.
Residents had been sneaking in to collect scrap metal, a routine that turned deadly when the slab suddenly gave way.
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Makadara deputy county commissioner Philip Koima described the response as fast and coordinated, saying disaster teams were deployed within minutes once the alarm was raised.
Firefighters from the Nairobi county government and officers from the Makadara Sub-County Security Committee joined the mission, sealing off unstable sections as they worked.
Rescuers used excavators, cutting tools and manual equipment to lift heavy concrete and twisted metal, all while navigating dangerous ground.
One firefighter said the terrain shifted with every step, raising fears that another collapse could occur during the search. Residents who watched the operation said they had long warned scrap collectors that the site was unsafe.
The multi-agency teams retrieved bodies and continued combing through the rubble to confirm whether more victims were still trapped.
2. The StandardAccording to the publication, President William Ruto has revived a powerful structure many Kenyans thought had been buried with the Bomas Draft, the era of imperial chiefs.
The move became evident after he hosted nearly 15,000 chiefs and assistant chiefs at State House in what analysts interpret as a decisive political recalibration ahead of 2027.
Ruto defended the renewed authority of the administrators, saying they remain a vital bridge between the state and citizens and will help counter what he called rising misinformation on social media.
He told the gathering that chiefs would play a central role in pushing the government’s transformation agenda, a signal that their influence is set to expand.
Political observers argue that the re-empowerment of chiefs is not accidental. With the next General Election approaching, the officials could become key mobilisers for the government, a strategy reminiscent of the 1980s, when chiefs were central to State House politics.
During that period, chiefs earned notoriety for enforcing loyalty to the ruling party, KANU, often using intimidation.
Communities remember them for extorting money, livestock and other valuables under the guise of government fundraising.
They also wielded arbitrary power, locking up villagers, sometimes drunkards or petty offenders, until relatives arrived with bribes.
Because of this history, critics warn that empowering chiefs without public participation may revive old tensions.
3. The StarAs per the publication, fresh tension is building inside the United Opposition as former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua’s political style sparks growing unease among coalition partners.
His sharp public attacks, contested claims about Nairobi seat-sharing, and intensifying rivalry with former Interior CS Fred Matiang’i have opened cracks in a coalition already bruised by recent by-election losses.
Gachagua’s declaration that his DCP party had secured control over nearly all Nairobi elective seats triggered instant pushback, with Wiper and other parties dismissing the claims as unilateral and destabilising.
Leaders accused him of undermining unity and using the coalition platform to settle personal political scores, particularly in Mt Kenya.
The controversy comes alongside sustained hostilities toward Jubilee and Matiang’i, further widening rifts.
Coalition figures warn that Gachagua’s pattern of celebrating only his party’s victories while distancing himself from shared setbacks is fuelling distrust.
Critics say these moves risk casting the coalition as a fragmented outfit driven by tribal interests rather than shared ideals.
Jubilee officials cautioned that zoning Nairobi along ethnic lines would hand Ruto an easy advantage in 2027.
Still, some leaders, including Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo, argue Gachagua’s remarks were misinterpreted, insisting no secret deal exists and that negotiations are normal in coalition politics.
Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka has also moved to defuse tensions, dismissing claims of an exclusive Nairobi pact as propaganda meant to divide partners.
Analysts now warn that if unresolved, the internal friction could derail plans to front a single presidential candidate.
“Gachagua needs to be told to avoid language that annoys Kenyans. He is not strategic; he should speak only when necessary,” University don Prof Gitile Naituli said, describing his remarks as careless and unnecessary.4. Taifa LeoThe Swahili publication reports a growing political restlessness among young Kenyans, a movement that surged last year when Gen Z poured into the streets demanding a voice in national leadership.
Many of those who inspired the uprising have since stepped into party structures or even contested in the November 27 by-elections.
But their first encounter with the ballot has exposed the unforgiving terrain of Kenyan politics, where money, party machinery and entrenched elders still determine who wins.
In Kasipul, 26-year-old independent candidate Jeazmin Aoko, the only woman in the race, managed just 26 votes.
She said her age, limited resources and the dominance of big political parties worked against her, but she remains determined to try again in 2027.
Aoko often walked or used motorbikes to meet voters, only to find children at home as adults flocked to rallies where cash was being distributed.
In Mbeere North, 30-year-old Safina Party candidate Lawrence Ireri received 100 votes after running his entire campaign on KSh20,000.
He said he was accepted by many residents but could not match his competitors’ cash handouts. He plans to join a stronger party in 2027.
In Magarini, 25-year-old Amos Katana finished fourth with 192 votes, despite support from youth and fellow Gen Z aspirant Fatuma Ramadhan.
Katana moved door-to-door, relying on small donations, and later condemned open bribery that he said robbed voters of real choice.
In Chewani ward, Tana River county, 26-year-old Pascal Wayu and 24-year-old Zena Haluwa faced blunt demands for money, alongside age and gender-based discrimination.
Wayu received 38 votes, while Haluwa endured open insults, mostly from women, who doubted her ability to lead.
Proofreading by Asher Omondi, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
