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Kalonzo Musyoka during the ICPAK Annual Seminar in Mombasa on May 23, 2025. PHOTO/@skmusyoka /X

Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has condemned the government’s decision to withdraw the lunch subsidy for Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) personnel.

Speaking at  Kameme TV on Monday morning, June 30, 2025, the former vice president warned that the move risks damaging the morale and effectiveness of the military. 

“The clarion core of the army is moving with the stomach. When you get into issues related to their meals. You are even compromising the morale of the defence forces,” he stated.

He questioned the logic behind the policy shift and demanded greater transparency from government officials responsible for the rollout.

“We condemn the rollout of the new system. I don’t know who is advising the government. If they don’t have money, they should just say so,” she said.

Under the pay-as-you-eat (PAYE) system, set to take effect on July 1, 2025, KDF personnel are expected to pay for their meals out of pocket.

The rollout of the PAYE system immediately replaces the traditional exchequer-funded lunch programme, despite disquiet from a section of servicemen and women of lower ranks, who heavily depend on the subsidy initiative for survival. 

The rollout

The rollout was communicated through a letter from the Kenya Army Headquarters dated June 23, 2025, signed by Chief of Logistics Brigadier Eric Nzioki Kitusya, titled ‘Implementation of Pay-As-You-Eat (PAYE) Program’.

“The implementation of the subject program is scheduled to commence on 01 July 2025. In this regard, authority is granted to you to demand Ration Scale Four (4) for fourteen (14) days with effect from 1st July 2025 for use as seed capital for the programme. Your demands to reach this headquarters not later than 25th June 2025.”

Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) formation commanders pose for a photo on Friday November 8, 2024. PHOTO/@kdfinfo/X
 
Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) formation commanders pose for a photo on Friday, November 8, 2024. PHOTO/@kdfinfo/X

 “Please note that it is envisaged that the proceeds of the seed capital will form a self-sustaining revolving fund to be administered by the Pay-As-You-Eat Management Committees to oversee the operation of the messing facilities,” the letter further reads.

 “Further, you are advised to utilise the existing messing infrastructure/facilities/amenities to support the Pay-As-You-Eat programme. Additional requirements will continue to be considered progressively on a case-by-case basis in the 2025/2026 financial year.”

Responding to the new changes set to take effect on Tuesday, the Ministry of Defence stated, “The decision to transition from the exchequer-funded lunch program for service members to the Pay-As-You-Eat system has been necessitated by the need to streamline budgetary allocation, efficiency in use of government resources, facilitating access to a variety of meals that suit individual preferences, and alignment to best military practices both regionally and internationally.” 

“The exchequer-funded lunch system has proved non-cost-effective. It does not offer flexibility of time, nor does it provide the convenience of a feeding place, and it has been faulted for loss of working hours due to long queues and duplication of ration scales when service members are assigned to different camps,” the ministry added.

The ration cash allowance was introduced into the Kenya Defence Forces in 2000, when the provision for other meals, including breakfast and dinner, was discontinued. By , People Daily

The launch of the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope in Zimbabwe marked the beginning of a spiritual journey for Catholics across the country. Halfway through the Jubilee Year, Zimbabwe’s Catholic faithful have responded in great numbers to local diocesan pilgrimages. Thanks to meticulous planning and seamless collaboration with Italian embassy officials in Harare by diocesan and national pastoral coordinators, the Church in Zimbabwe has seen unprecedented numbers travelling to Italy for the various 2025
 

Sr. Mufaro Chakuinga – Vatican City

The pilgrimage to Rome is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many Catholics worldwide. Since the start of the Jubilee in December last year, Vatican News has been speaking with various Zimbabwean groups of pilgrims who have come to Rome to understand what these journeys of faith mean to them. So far, many pilgrims have described their pilgrimage to Rome as a life-changing and transformative spiritual experience. Many said they were emotional and shed tears as they crossed the Holy Door of Saint Peter’s Basilica. They also carried the prayers and hopes of family members and their communities.

Transforming faith encounters

The Zimbabwean Pilgrims of Hope say they feel confirmed and renewed in their faith. Some feel even closer to God. Miss Wendy Nago from Zimbabwe’s city of Bulawayo shared what she could only describe as a life-changing experience by stating that the pilgrimage has deepened her understanding of the Catholic faith at its roots. She described it as “awesome and unique” to attend Holy Mass with Pope Leo XIV, be part of the Wednesday General Audience with the Pope and above all, pass through the Holy Doors of the four major Basilicas of Rome. The elaborate architectural beauty of the Basilicas left her speechless.

Mobilising the faithful for the pilgrimages

Fr. Limukani Ndlovu, the Pastoral Vicar of the Archdiocese of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, said he was humbled by the enthusiasm and sacrifice shown by Zimbabweans in undertaking these journeys to Rome.

Zimbabweans from various Bulawayo parishes have responded enthusiastically, and more are still registering for the remaining jubilees. Diocesan and national pastoral offices have been working tirelessly to meet the needs of parishioners and to provide complete information about the pilgrimage.

For many Zimbabweans, the whole venture is an expensive endeavour. Many have saved for months and made great sacrifices in order to participate. The Diocese of Bulawayo has developed a comprehensive spiritual program to support pilgrims. Fr. Ndlovu emphasised that the focus was on the spiritual significance of the pilgrimage rather than on tourism. He stressed the importance of creating awareness, promoting publicity, mobilising support, and ensuring that everyone interested in participating receives the necessary assistance. No one was to be left out.

Zimbabwe's Catholic faithful in Rome

As one pilgrim noted, “When a small section of society is exposed to new experiences and encounters people from other cultures, they definitely change.” This sentiment is echoed by many who have undertaken the pilgrimage, affirming that they return changed, transformed, and renewed in their faith. Vatican News

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Protestors in the streets of Nairobi after fierce confrontation with the police during the June 25 protests. [Edward Kiplimo, Standard]
 

In the fog of war, it is easy to lose sight of the repercussions of one of the oldest ways of settling real or imagined scores. The actual suffering is not that of the people in power nor even the actual combatants - after all, the latter signed up for it.

It is the so-called common people, those who have nothing to do with the war and who would rather live in peace.

That is why when I saw what I believe to be one of the most heart-rending pictures of the Gen Z protests earlier this week, I felt that as a country, we have taken a turn for the worse. We have sunk to new depths and still digging ourselves in. 

The picture was of two ladies hugging and crying outside their looted electronics shop in the CBD amid mountains of debris from the chaos. The picture told more than words: two innocent business ladies in front of their gutted shop that the goons looted. During the previous protests, we saw this lady crying uncontrollably outside her shop after goons were earlier filmed frittering away everything. It is truly a tragedy.

Meantime, the emperor - remember Nero? - fiddles away as the country burns. And yet, the government has the nerve to accuse the youngsters who were peacefully protesting the death of many of their own in the hands of this same government, of being behind the chaos. 

The Interior CS has the cheek to issue a shoot-to-kill order to police. It is an appalling lack of empathy, nay, common sense, at a time when such is sorely needed. What balderdash! 

Which Gen Z carries a recently hewn club to go for demos and goes ahead to use it on some innocent person who might as well be their fathers, mother, sister or brother?

Gen Z knows how to use a padlock cutter to cut metal grills and locks of those small cubicles that are the lifeline of most of the businesses in the country? 

Would a genuine protester even know where to start in trying to dispose of such stolen items in the shadowy backyard or wherever stolen goods are stashed away? My answer is an unequivocal no.

Only a seasoned goon knows where to take those stolen laptops and mobile phones for laundering before they are sold discreetly. And only a paid hoodlum would wield a club on a stranger walking the streets, minding his own business. 

The street protests have been infiltrated by paid goons, paid for by people in power. We have seen goons on motorcycles and on foot, brandishing clubs, beating people at will and looting while being escorted by policemen. All this is in the public domain.

Kenya’s swift slide from organised protest to violent unrest reminds us how fragile democracy can be without the rule of law and coherent policy. In 2024, 60 people died in the first wave of tax riots; in 2025, around 16 people have perished. Hundreds have been injured or arbitrarily detained. Thousands have been reduced to poverty as their businesses have been looted.  

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Once looting and real brutality break through, even initially peaceful crowds can dissolve into chaos. The government’s partial media suppression and heavy-handed security tactics exacerbate mistrust. When basic governance is inconsistent, the social contract frays quickly. 

We are at a crossroads. Gen Z’s anger is justified, rooted in economic despair and broken governance. Yet, current protest models have proven dangerously vulnerable to hijacking by infiltrators. With each erosion of peaceful dissent, the social fabric frays further, edging closer to anarchy. How do we move forward?

The government and its agencies are determined to make protests as painful as possible. They will clobber everybody senseless as they hold on to power and their ill-got wealth.

The challenge now is to transform legitimate outrage into resilient civil engagement: through smarter strategies, consistent policy reforms, strengthened institutions, and clear protest frameworks. Without this, activists and the state risk spiralling toward unlivable disorder. By Mutahi Mureithi, The Standard

Collage of the Standard publication's June 23, 2025, headline and President William Ruto and his ally Raila Odinga shaking hands during a Cabinet retreat in Karen. 
Photo 

The Standard newspaper has issued a scathing response to ODM leader Raila Odinga following his criticism of a headline that pointed at him among the “Betrayers of Gen Z.” 

The editorial, published over the weekend, defended the paper’s stance, accusing Raila of remaining silent in the face of growing state excesses under the Kenya Kwanza administration—a government he is now seen to support. 

“Isn't it a betrayal that Raila says nothing while the government he now supports continues to break the law, ignore court orders, allow corruption, silence independent media, give shoot-to-kill orders against innocent people, and waste public funds like spending hundreds of millions on dozens of unnecessary presidential advisers?” the paper questioned, suggesting that the veteran opposition leader had failed to live up to his own legacy.

The editorial further accused the current administration of treating ordinary Kenyans with contempt. It stated that the government had resorted to abducting and torturing its citizens and decried Raila’s silence over such grave matters. 

“So, what more proof is needed for Raila and ODM to see that many Kenyans now view them as betrayers?” the paper posed, arguing that Raila had grown out of touch with the frustration and anger expressed by a generation demanding justice and accountability.

In a more personal charge, the publication alleged that Raila’s close associates and family members were benefiting from high-level government appointments—signs of nepotism and cronyism, it claimed.  

The editorial urged the ODM leader to walk away from what it termed a "mess" and take a firm stand on issues affecting the country. “If Raila doesn’t want to be part of this mess, then he should walk away. He should speak out clearly and strongly, not issue weak, confusing statements that only show he is enjoying his place at President Ruto’s table.”

The editorial concluded by calling on Raila to demand legal accountability, warning that his continued silence would be viewed as a betrayal of the democratic values he once stood for. “If he does not, then he is betraying the very values he has said he spent his life fighting for—a good name, the rule of law, equality, and opportunity for all. These are the same values that Gen Z are now standing up for, which is why they feel so deeply betrayed.”

Last Monday, the ODM party slammed the publication, which has in recent months been running blistering newspaper headlines against the government and its perceived associations, maintaining that it has a hidden agenda to force Raila into forcing the party to support the political positions of the ownership of the media outlet.

According to ODM, it was misleading and unfair for the publication to label them as betrayers, especially given the historical context of last year’s Gen Z protests.  

The party noted that the demonstrations were a spontaneous movement by young Kenyans demanding their rights—particularly the withdrawal of the Finance Bill 2024—and were not aligned to any political formation or leader.

In a statement signed by Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, the party defended its leader against criticism from The Standard headline titled Gen Z Betrayers, which suggested that Odinga's decision to collaborate with the government—alongside activist Kasmuel McOure—was a betrayal of the youth movement. ODM dismissed the label as misguided and reiterated its support for the protests. By Frankline Oduor, Kenyans.co.ke

 
 
South Sudan, a landlocked country in East Africa, broke from Sudan in 2011 . [Photo: Courtesy]

Since gaining independence from Sudan in 2011, South Sudan’s access to oil a valuable resource that once accounted for about 350,000 barrels per day has been intricately tied to its northern neighbour.

Discussions between Sudan and South Sudan on revised transit fees have failed to reach a resolution, leaving South Sudan’s vital oil infrastructure and economy in the balance.

 

Local media outlet Radio Tamazuj reported on Thursday that technical sources and officials highlighted the potential consequences of Sudan’s proposed adjustments to the export fees, impacting South Sudan’s already fragile economy.

Since gaining independence from Sudan in 2011, South Sudan’s access to oil a valuable resource that once accounted for about 350,000 barrels per day has been intricately tied to its northern neighbor.

The landlocked nation must rely on Sudan’s pipeline network to export its crude oil through Port Sudan on the Red Sea, rendering it vulnerable to pricing disputes.

Following nearly a year of halted exports due to ongoing conflict in Sudan, a timid resumption of oil flows took place in early 2025, lifting the force majeure that had paralyzed operations.

Just last year, however, Sudan declared force majeure again after significant damage to the pipeline amidst military tensions, further complicating the situation.

South Sudan’s Government is exploring alternative routes to mitigate this dependence. A statement from the presidency earlier indicated ongoing discussions between South Sudan and China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) to build a new pipeline to Djibouti, aiming to enhance crude export capabilities.

This move, part of a broader strategy to revitalize the oil sector, highlights South Sudan’s urgency to diversify its export options.

Amid these challenges, South Sudan’s national oil company, Nile Petroleum Corporation (NilePet), recently unveiled a groundbreaking agreement with Russian energy giant Rosneft at the Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum. Expected to revolutionize the nation’s oil sector, the deal includes constructing modern pipelines and refineries within South Sudan, reducing its dependency on Sudanese infrastructure.

“We are now in the final stages, and the MoU was signed in Juba. We’re currently working on technical follow-ups to finalize the full agreement,” stated Kamal Mabok, Senior Technical Advisor for NilePet, emphasizing the urgency and importance of this collaboration.

The roadmap carved by these emerging partnerships not only positions South Sudan on a path toward sustainable economic independence but also creates a pivot in its international relationships, signaling a shift from reliance on regional players to dependence through partnerships with global energy entities.

The outcome of these fee negotiations could shape the economic landscape of the region in years to come. By Emmanuel Mandella, The City Review

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