Kenya is a “one-term nation” where sitting presidents struggle to win genuine second-term mandates, according to Royal Media Services Director of Strategy and Innovation Linus Kaikai.

Kaikai made the explosive remarks during a News Gang discussion, arguing that Kenya’s presidential elections have repeatedly been followed by allegations of manipulation and disputed outcomes.

He pointed to the 2007, 2017 and 2022 elections while making his case, saying the controversy surrounding successive presidential contests has created a perception that incumbents cannot easily lose power through the ballot.

Kaikai traced what he described as a troubling pattern back to the 2007 presidential election involving Mwai Kibaki and Raila Odinga.

He argued that the events surrounding that election established a precedent that has continued to shape public debate around presidential elections.

His comments come amid renewed scrutiny of Kenya’s electoral history following former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s recent remarks about the 2022 presidential election.

Kaikai’s comments have now reignited the familiar Kenyan debate: can an incumbent president genuinely lose a second-term bid at the ballot?

The Kenyan government has apologised to Burundian nationals following reports of harassment and confusion surrounding the crackdown on foreigners operating small businesses without the required licences.

Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei delivered the apology during a visit to the Burundian Embassy in Nairobi on Monday, September 7, where concerned Burundian nationals had gathered seeking clarity over their legal status and safety.

The controversy erupted after President William Ruto directed foreigners running small-scale businesses without the necessary licences and documentation to formalise their operations or stop trading.

But the message appears to have been misunderstood by some members of the public.

According to Sing’oei, the confusion led to some Burundians and other foreign nationals being harassed by members of the public. The government has now moved to reassure properly documented foreigners that they are free to live and work in Kenya.

Security is also being stepped up in areas with large immigrant populations, including Bahati and Muthurwa, as foreign nationals work to regularise their documents.

The big question now is whether the government’s clarification will calm tensions after days of anxiety among Burundians and other foreign communities in Kenya.

The long-running inquest into the fatal shooting of 24-year-old protester Rex Masai has finally come to a close, two years after his death during the 2024 anti-Finance Bill protests.

The proceedings wrapped up at Milimani Law Courts on Monday, September 7, 2026, after the court heard evidence from 30 prosecution witnesses and received 48 physical and digital exhibits.

But one of the biggest moments came during the final hearing.

IPOA forensic expert Joshua Mutua told the court that crucial CCTV footage linked to the case was authentic and had not been tampered with.

According to his testimony, forensic examination found no evidence of deletion, alteration or editing of the footage.

Masai was shot in Nairobi’s Central Business District during the youth-led protests against the Finance Bill 2024, triggering public outrage and renewed calls for police accountability.

Now, the evidence has been heard.

The next step is the ruling.

Magistrate Geoffrey Onsarigo has directed the parties involved to file their written closing submissions before the court sets a date to determine the circumstances surrounding Masai’s death and whether any police officers should face criminal charges.

Two years later, the question that has remained on many Kenyans’ minds is closer to getting an answer: Who was responsible for Rex Masai’s death?