Highlights from the Kenya Gazette – 8th May, 2026

The latest edition of the Kenya Gazette is out, and as always, it carries a mix of major government appointments, court directives, land notices, digital finance developments, environmental notices, insolvency matters, and legal updates that affect Kenyans directly and indirectly.

This week’s Gazette particularly stood out for new appointments to the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC), fresh licensing of digital lenders by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), new court guidelines affecting road accident claims, and a long list of land title notices across several counties.

Here are the key highlights you should know from the Kenya Gazette published on 8th May, 2026.

Presidential Appointments

President William Samoei Ruto appointed Dr. Julius Murori Mbijiwe as an Ambassador within Kenya’s Foreign Service.

The President also appointed Dr. Kepha Nyamweya Omae as the Chairperson of the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) for a six-year term.

Additionally, seven new members were appointed to the NCIC board, including:

Josphine Kirion Eragae
Joseph K. Nguyo
Jackson Swadi Kedogo
Dr. Samuel Mwachiro Mwawasi
Irene Chepoisho Tulel
Hassan Billow Ahmed
Jerusah Mwaathime Michael

The appointments come at a time when conversations around national unity, ethnic relations, political tolerance, and hate speech continue to dominate public discourse in Kenya.

Judiciary Issues New Guidelines on Road Accident Claims

One of the most significant legal updates in this Gazette was the Judiciary’s new guidelines on the transfer of personal injury claims arising from road accidents from Small Claims Courts to Magistrates’ Courts.

The guidelines follow a January 2026 High Court decision in Gathaiya v Attorney General & Others, where the court directed that pending road accident injury claims before Small Claims Courts be transferred to Magistrates’ Courts.

Key takeaways include:

Only cases that had not been concluded by 22nd January, 2026 will be transferred.
Existing judgments already delivered by Small Claims Courts will remain valid.
Transferred matters will retain their original records for traceability.
The Judiciary directed that all transferred matters be handled on a priority basis to avoid delays.

For litigants, lawyers, insurers, and victims of road accidents, this is a major procedural development that could significantly affect timelines and handling of compensation claims.

JKIA Magistrates’ Court Moved Under Kibera High Court Supervision

Chief Justice Martha Koome also gazetted a restructuring of court supervisory jurisdiction within Nairobi County.

The Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) Magistrates’ Court will now fall under the supervisory jurisdiction of the Kibera High Court with effect from 4th May, 2026.

The notice also reorganized how several Nairobi Magistrates’ Courts are supervised administratively by different High Court divisions.

CBK Licenses More Digital Lenders

The Central Bank of Kenya licensed 32 additional Digital Credit Providers (DCPs), continuing its crackdown on unregulated mobile lending.

Some of the newly licensed lenders include:

Kopo Kopo Inc. Kenya Limited
Izwe Loans Kenya Limited
Hakki Africa Limited
Karibu Credit Limited
Inkomoko Capital Kenya Limited
Jawabu Biashara Limited
Yehu Impact Limited

The licensing framework is part of CBK’s ongoing efforts to regulate Kenya’s rapidly growing digital lending space, improve consumer protection, and curb predatory lending practices.

For borrowers, this means more legally recognized lenders operating under CBK oversight.

County Government Changes

Bungoma County Reorganization

Kenneth Makelo Lusaka reassigned several County Executive Committee Members in Bungoma County.

Among the notable changes:

Bonventure Chengeck Chemaket moved to Finance and Economic Planning.
Carolyne Khalayi Makali was assigned Roads, Transport, Infrastructure and Public Works.
Dr. David Wamamili Wanyonyi was assigned Public Service Management, ICT, and acting Gender, Culture, Youth and Sports.

Webuye Municipality Push

Governor Lusaka also appointed an ad hoc committee to assess whether Webuye Town qualifies for elevation to Municipality status.

The committee includes representatives from:

The Law Society of Kenya
The Institution of Surveyors of Kenya
The Kenya Institute of Planners
The Architectural Association of Kenya
ICPAK

Machakos Municipal Board Appointments

Wavinya Ndeti appointed new members to the Machakos and Mavoko Municipal Boards for five-year terms.

Land Notices Continue to Dominate the Gazette

As is common with many Gazette editions, land-related notices occupied a large section of the publication.

The Gazette carried numerous notices on:

Lost title deeds
Replacement titles
Provisional certificates
New land title deeds
Revocation of provisional certificates

The notices affected properties across Nairobi, Nakuru, Mombasa, Kisumu, Bungoma, Kakamega, Uasin Gishu, Trans Nzoia, Busia, Kiambu, Kilifi, and other counties.

One notable notice involved the revocation of a provisional title relating to land in Mombasa after allegations of misrepresentation and concealment of ownership details.

These notices are particularly important for property owners, buyers, advocates, banks, and anyone conducting land due diligence.

Environmental Impact Assessment Notices

The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) published several Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) notices inviting public comments on proposed developments.

Such notices are important because they allow the public to raise objections, concerns, or support for projects before approvals are granted.

Environmental notices continue to play a major role in balancing development, environmental protection, and public participation rights under the Constitution.

Insolvency and Company Notices

The Gazette also carried several insolvency and company-related notices, including:

Appointment of liquidators
Intended company dissolutions
Corporate compliance notices

These notices are closely monitored by creditors, investors, suppliers, and legal practitioners as they often signal financial distress, restructuring, or winding up processes.

Other Notable Notices

Other interesting notices published in this week’s Gazette included:

Disposal of uncollected goods
Intended destruction of court records
Election corrigenda by IEBC
Designation of forensic analysts under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Control Act
Change of names notices

New Bills and Acts Published

The Gazette also published several legislative supplements, including:

Bills

The Special Economic Zones (Amendment) Bill, 2026
The Microfinance Bill, 2026
The Medical Practitioners and Dentists (Amendment) Bill, 2026

New Acts

The National Infrastructure Fund Act, 2026
The Judges’ Retirement Benefits Act, 2026

These proposed laws and newly enacted statutes could have significant implications for investment, healthcare regulation, infrastructure financing, and judicial welfare in Kenya.

The Kenya Gazette remains one of the most important public legal documents in the country, quietly shaping governance, land ownership, business regulation, court administration, and public accountability every week.

For lawyers, business owners, property investors, public officers, and ordinary Kenyans alike, keeping an eye on Gazette notices is often the easiest way to stay informed on what is changing legally and administratively across the country.

You can read the full Kenya Gazette for 8th May, 2026 for all notices, appointments, land matters, and legal publications.