Kenyan Newspapers Review: William Ruto To Fire Njuguna Ndung'u If Cost Of Living Remains High

On Friday, August 4, the Kenyan newspapers reported that Treasury Cabinet Secretary (CS) Njuguna Ndung'u's job is hanging by a thread.

The dailies also reported that the court awarded former Kenya Airforce major Peter Mugure KSh 2 million over illegal sacking after he was accused of murdering his wife and two children.

1. The Standard

If Treasury CS Njuguna Ndung'u fails to tame inflation within the government's range, he could lose his job.

This is according to his latest performance contract signed in State House, Nairobi.

"He (Ndung'u) will collaborate with the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) to maintain the inflation rate at 5% plus or minus 2.5%," the contract stated.

While signing the performance contracts, Ruto described some of his CSs as clueless.

Kenyans have been hit with a high cost of living following the implementation of the Finance Act 2023, which introduced a raft of taxes.

Among them was the doubling of Value Added Tax on fuel which saw the cost of a litre of super petrol, diesel, and kerosene rise to KSh 195.53, KSh 179.67 and KSh 173.44, respectively.

2. Daily Nation

Former Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) soldier Peter Mugure has been awarded KSh 2 million by the Employment and Labour Relations Court in Nyeri over illegal dismissal.

Justice Onesmus Makau ruled that Mugure was unfairly sacked from the service.

"I award him KSh 2 million for the procedural breaches during the termination of his commission contrary to Article 47 of the Constitution," the judge ruled.

Mugure, who is facing murder charges after he was accused of killing his estranged wife and two children, was serving as a major at Laikipia Air Base.

He accused the government of stopping his salary and was awarded the amount as damages.

The suspect is remanded at King'ong'o Maximum Security Prison in Nyeri.

3. People Daily

The youngest widow of the late Eldoret businessman Jackson Kibor risks jail after the High Court faulted her for interfering with his multi-billion estate.

Justice Reuben Nyakundi warned Eunita Jelimo, cautioning her from selling any of the deceased's properties in Rift Valley, Coast and Nairobi.

"It has come to the court's attention that there has been inter-meddling of the deceased's estate by you; let that stop because doing that will land you in jail," the judge warned.

The judge said being named as one of the estate's administrators does not permit Eunita to dispose of Kibor's property.

Kibor, who died in March 2022, left behind a will naming Eunita and his lawyer Jonah Keter as the administrators of his properties, but it is being contested by his 27 children at the High Court.

They described the will as a forgery.

4. Taifa Leo

Tanzanians will pay more for fuel after the country's energy regulator increased the prices of the commodity by KSh 27.

In the latest review, the Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (EWURA) announced an increment of 17% for fuel.

Following the increment, the cost of a litre of petrol was increased to TSh3,199 (KSh 186.46), up from TSh 2,736 (KSh 159).

On the other hand, diesel's cost rose from TSh 2,544 (KSh 148) to TSh 2,935 (KSh 171) a litre, while Kerosene's price was reduced slightly from TSh2,829 (KSh 164.89) to TSh 2,668 (KSh 155) a litre.

EWURA director James Mwainyekuledue cited challenges in the availability of US dollars and changes in the fuel levy.