June 11, 2025: Top news events to look out for today
By Mabonga Makhanu, June 11, 2025Here is what you need to know to keep up to speed with today’s happenings.
Appointment of IEBC officials
Conversations around the appointment of IEBC commissioners are set to continue, with Parliament also expected to deliberate on the gazettment of the officials.
On June 10, 2025, President William Ruto gazetted the appointment of Erastus Edung Ethekon as the chairperson of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) for a six-year term, pursuant to Gazette Notice No. 7724, which invoked Article 250(2) of the Constitution.
Alongside him, six commissioners were appointed through Gazette Notice No. 7725: Ann Njeri Nderitu, Moses Alutalala Mukhwana, Mary Karen Sorobit, Hassan Noor Hassan, Francis Odhiambo Aduol, and Fahima Araphat Abdallah, each for a six-year term.
However, a High Court order issued on May 29, 2025, barred their swearing-in and official gazettment pending the outcome of a petition challenging the nomination process, although vetting by Parliament was permitted to proceed.
Outcry over Albert Ojwang’s
The death of social media influencer Albert Ojwang, who died while in police custody at Nairobi’s Central Police Station, continues to fuel public outcry.
A postmortem conducted on June 10 revealed head injuries and neck compression, contradicting initial police claims that he had hit his head on a cell wall.
Opposition leaders, including Raila Odinga, are demanding a swift and transparent investigation.
Budget 2025/26
With one day remaining before the budget reading, the day’s conversations are also expected to centre around the national budget.
Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi is set to present the 2025/26 Budget Statement on June 12, 2025, at 3:00 pm in Parliament, marking his first budget reading since his appointment in September 2024.
The budget, estimated at Ksh4.239 trillion, prioritises fiscal consolidation, economic recovery, and the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), with a focus on agriculture, micro and small enterprises (MSMEs), housing, healthcare, and the digital economy.
Key allocations include Ksh701 billion for education, Ksh501 billion for infrastructure, and Ksh436.7 billion for county transfers.
Recurrent expenditure is projected at Ksh3.1 trillion, while Ksh725.1 billion is allocated for development projects.
Revenue targets stand at Ksh3.39 trillion, with Ksh2.84 trillion expected from ordinary revenue, supported by tax reforms and enhanced digital efficiency.
Mbadi has adopted zero-based budgeting, emphasising expenditure rationalisation and public participation to avoid a repeat of the backlash witnessed during the 2024 Finance Bill.
However, the budget faces significant challenges, including a Ksh253 billion revenue shortfall, a rising national debt currently at Ksh11.36 trillion, and delayed World Bank funding amounting to Ksh96.9 billion.
Africa Public Service Day events
Kenya is hosting a three-day celebration of Africa Public Service Day at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi, from June 10 to June 12.
On June 11, a national symposium is underway, bringing together public servants, experts, and academics to discuss ways of improving government services through technology and inclusivity.
The event underscores Kenya’s commitment to leveraging digital tools and enhancing access to public services, particularly for marginalised communities.