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

Dutch King’s state visit

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands will today kick off their second day of their state visit to Kenya. The King and the Queen will visit the inland container depot (ICD) in Naivasha, which is a major storage facility for dry export products.

The Netherlands is the region’s biggest export market for products such as flowers and avocados.

This ICD and the Netherlands are jointly working to make logistical flows for perishables more sustainable, for example, by transporting refrigerated goods by rail and ship.

The royal couple will also visit a Dutch horticultural business that is working on sustainable and responsible production.

It is also investing in a healthier and more sustainable local ecosystem and provides childcare and education for its employees’ children.

In the afternoon, the King and Queen will take part in a thematic session on climate change, which will focus on water, climate action, and security in Kenya and the wider East African region.

Civil society and defence organisations, knowledge institutions, and government agencies will present their projects and innovations.

Climate change is affecting the availability, distribution, and quality of water resources in the region.

This presents challenges in terms of human safety, security, and wellbeing; economic stability; and geopolitical relations. 

Later in the evening, the King and Queen will host a cultural programme as a token of appreciation for Kenya’s hospitality.

KMPDU demonstration

The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists & Dentists Union (KMPDU) is expected to continue with its strike that kicked off on March 18, 2025.

The doctors are seeking to address various issues affecting the health sector, including the implementation of the 2017 CBA.

Their demonstrations coincide with the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) strike, whose members who have been working on contract terms for the last five years, are demanding to be employed on permanent and pensionable terms.

On Friday, March 14, 2025, the KMPDU Secretary-General and Chief Executive Officer Davji Attellah rallied healthcare workers and civil servants to stand up for their rights, emphasizing the urgent need for the immediate posting of medical interns and the full implementation of the Public Officer Medical Fund, which was designed to ensure that civil servants, including healthcare workers, have access to quality medical care.

According to Attelah, the protest aims to push the government into action on critical issues affecting medical professionals and public servants.

“Mega-demo alert; Doctors, healthcare workers, and civil servants, it’s time to stand up for our rights! Join us on 18th March 2025 as we march to demand: Immediate posting of medical interns and full implementation of the Public Officer Medical Fund,” Atellah announced.

Atellah urged the government to act on the issues addressed by the healthcare workers and civil servants without making promises.

High-profile cases in court

High-profile graft cases are among those that will be brought up in court today for hearing.

A graft case involving former Murang’a County Governor Francis Mwangi Wa Iria, and seven others is among those that will be up for hearing at the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court.

According to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), Wa Iria and the seven others are charged with conspiracy to commit an offence of corruption and abuse of office. The allegations relate to fraud in respect of an unlawful contract for the provision of media buying services awarded to Top Image Media Consultants Limited by Muranga County Government amounting to Ksh351.1 million.

Another high-profile case that will be up for hearing involves former Nairobi County Governor Mike Mbuvi Gideon Kioko Sonko and 16 others. According to EACC, they are charged with conflict of interest. The allegations relate to a joint conspiracy between the former governor of the Nairobi City County and directors of private limited companies to embezzle Ksh24.1 million from the Nairobi City County Government.