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Here is what you need to know to get up to speed with today’s happenings.

UoN leadership wrangles

The wrangles within the University of Nairobi leadership are expected to draw a lot of attention.

This is especially after the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU)-University of Nairobi Chapter called for an immediate end and restoration of order.

Led by its chairman and secretary, Richard Bosire and Maloba Wekesa, respectively, the UoN Chapter said the government should take swift and appropriate action, in addition to establishing the root cause of the wrangles that are now damaging the university’s image.

Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu was asked to rein in the wrangling parties to bring order to the higher learning institution.

HELB budget cuts

University and college students are expected to up their opposition to plans to slash education loans by Ksh3.7 billion.

The proposal to reduce aid available through the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) could lock out thousands of needy students from accessing higher education.

In the 2024/25 financial year, the National Treasury has proposed reducing the budget allocated to HELB.

The Treasury wants to allocate Ksh33.3 billion to HELB, a 10 per cent reduction from the previous allocation.

South Africa’s election

South Africans head to elections today with the ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC), staring at an imminent loss of its majority stake.

This is viewed as the most pivotal election since the racist system of apartheid ended in 1994, as more than 27 million people are registered to cast their ballots in a poll that highlights growing political fragmentation after 30 years of democracy.

A record 70 parties and 11 independents are contesting an election that will see South Africans vote for a new parliament and nine provincial legislatures.

Kenya’s retired president, Uhuru Kenyatta, heads the African Union observer mission.