Kenyan Newspapers, August 2: Uhuru Kenyatta Convenes Meeting with Opposition to Plot against Ruto

Kenyan Newspapers, August 2: Uhuru Kenyatta Convenes Meeting with Opposition to Plot against Ruto

The newspapers on Sunday, August 2, covered an array of topics, with keen focus on the political formations ahead of the 2027 general election.

Front pages of Sunday Nation and Taifa Jumapili. Photos: Screengrabs from Sunday Nation and Taifa Jumapili. Source: UGC

The newspaper reported on retired president Uhuru Kenyatta is expected to chair a crucial meeting of the Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya coalition council Monday, August 3, a move interpreted as his return to opposition politics ahead of the 2027 general election.

The meeting takes place as opposition leaders accelerate efforts to form a broad coalition capable of challenging President William Ruto, whose allies appear to be ahead in political mobilization.

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The main agenda will be the future of Azimio, the coalition Raila Odinga used in the 2022 election.

Following Raila's exit from the active political fray last year, Uhuru entrusted Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka with the responsibility of overseeing the coalition.

Kalonzo has been advocating for a structure similar to the Narc alliance that brought Mwai Kibaki to power in 2002, where parties retained their individual identities but united behind a single presidential candidate.

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However, these efforts have faced opposition from DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua , who stated that no party would be awarded the presidential ticket based solely on agreements among leaders.

For several months, opposition leaders have been discussing a major meeting to unite all groups opposed to Ruto; however, the meeting has yet to take place due to internal rivalry among those aspiring to the presidency.

Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo stated that Uhuru will lead tomorrow's meeting, which will discuss how to reorganize and give the Azimio coalition a fresh look ahead of the 2027 elections.

He noted that parties such as Wiper, Jubilee, and Kanu, along with other allies, will participate, while discussions are also underway to incorporate new groups; such as Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna’s Linda Mwananchi, Gachagua’s DCP, and Martha Karua’s People's Liberation Party (PLP).

The newspaper reported on the lives lost in road accidents between Friday, July 31, and Saturday, August 1.

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Twenty-one people lost their lives in various road accidents across the country in less than 24 hours, raising concerns about the rising death toll from accidents on highways and in hazardous areas.

The latest accident occurred at 6 am Saturday on the Kimbimbi-Ngurubani road in Kirinyaga County , where eight people died after a tuk-tuk collided with a cargo truck.

Most of the deceased were casual laborers heading to the Mwea rice fields for planting. The accident took place in Murubara village, Mwea East Constituency. The force of the impact completely wrecked the tuk-tuk and trapped the occupants inside.

Rescuers used specialised equipment to cut through the twisted metal and retrieve the bodies as relatives and residents watched in sorrow.

Mwea East Police Commander Stephen Okal stated that the truck driver was heading from Ngurubani towards Embu when he swerved to avoid a pothole, veering into the path of oncoming traffic before colliding with the tuk-tuk.

Five people died at the scene, while two others passed away after being taken to Kimbimbi Level Four Hospital.

The truck also struck two pedestrians, who died instantly. The tuk-tuk driver was among those who lost their lives.

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The newspaper reported on the The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) having scored a major victory in Mombasa after reclaiming a government house valued at Sh55 million in the upscale Kizingo neighbourhood.

The Environment and Land Court nullified a 99?year lease that had irregularly placed the property in the hands of retired senior resident magistrate Gilbert Mwangi Njuguna more than two decades ago.

Justice Lucas Naikuni ruled that the allocation was fraudulent, ordering Njuguna, a former Commissioner of Lands, and three others to pay Sh10 million in damages for trespassing on public land.

The property, measuring just over 0.1 acres and designated HG 53, had originally been set aside for civil servants’ housing as part of Mombasa Municipality/Block XXVI/243.

Investigations revealed that despite senior officials in the Ministry of Public Works and Housing, and even the Cabinet, rejecting Njuguna’s request, then Commissioner of Lands Wilson Gachanja issued him a Letter of Allotment in December 1997.

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This was followed by a lease and certificate of lease in March 1998, effectively transferring the property to Njuguna.

Court records showed that the Land Registry’s Green Card carried the inscription “Fraud Suspected,” strengthening EACC’s case that the transaction was unlawful.

Njuguna’s career had already been marred by controversy. He joined the Judicial Service Commission in 1986 but was interdicted in 2006 over misconduct allegations and retired in 2008 “in the public interest.”

The fraudulent acquisition of the Kizingo residence added another stain to his record, underscoring the systemic abuse of land allocation processes that plagued Kenya in the 1990s.

Justice Naikuni’s ruling not only restores the property to the government but also sends a strong signal about accountability in land matters.

By awarding damages to EACC, the court reinforced the principle that public land cannot be converted into private property through irregular means.

The case highlights the persistence of EACC in pursuing long?standing corruption cases and demonstrates the judiciary’s willingness to reverse fraudulent transactions, even decades later.

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For Mombasa, the recovery of the high?grade government residence represents more than just a legal triumph; it is a reminder of the importance of safeguarding public assets.

The ruling also adds momentum to Kenya’s broader anti?corruption drive, showing that even powerful figures are not immune to scrutiny.

As EACC continues to investigate similar cases, the Kizingo judgment stands as a landmark in the fight against land grabbing and misuse of state resources.

Kai Eli (Politics and current affairs editor)

Eli Kai is currently working with TUKO as a politics and current affairs editor. He has six years of experience in digital journalism. Eli joined Tuko.co.ke in 2021. Email: eli.odaga@tuko.co.ke