Talk of town: Frustrated Kenyan envoys demand budget for diaspora rescue missions

Governor targets high-profile officer 

Whispers from a city county suggest a quiet fallout between a county boss and one of his once-trusted chief officers. Insiders say the relationship has grown increasingly strained, with the boss reportedly becoming dismissive of the official, whose hands-on style and high visibility had initially earned praise. The chief officer, known for his active approach in a key docket, is said to have been edged out of influential circles, with communication between the two sides thinning significantly. While both sides have maintained public silence, insiders insist the rift is already pronounced and that it may only be a matter of time before the simmering tensions spill fully into the open.

Read: Talk of Town: Big man at Kenya Kwanza linked to illegal foreign recruitment, MCAs shortchanged and defections looming

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Former party boss in trouble

Are some former officials of a now-defunct national party out to embarrass their former boss? Insiders say a group of the former junior officials recently drafted and circulated a press statement that has reportedly placed their former leader in a difficult position. The statement is said to have irked senior government figures, who believe it was authored or sanctioned by him. As the controversy escalated, the former party boss is understood to have been put on the spot by top officials and asked to explain how the statement was prepared, who was behind it, and the motive for its circulation across social media platforms at a time when political temperatures have started boiling ahead of the 2027 General Election.

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Kenyan ambassadors abroad unhappy

The ambassadors’ conference has become Kenya’s annual ritual where envoys posted abroad return home for a brief on foreign policy priorities. This week, envoys from all over the world are to be told what to focus on in their daily jobs. Yet this has also given the diplomats a chance to lament on Nairobi’s lethargy in dealing with diaspora distress. One diplomat serving the Middle East was heard complaining how the headquarters took ages to provide timelines on rescue or repatriation. Some ambassadors now want an annual budgetary allocation for distress responses, a tough call ignored for years now.

Read: Talk of town: Kenyan politicians fear loss of Dubai property as Iran strikes hit UAE

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‘Discriminated’ junior officers 

Some junior administration officers in Western Kenya have accused one of their bosses of forcefully evicting them from their houses within designated camps and replacing them with his allies. This has forced them to seek alternative accommodation. The security officers say the move has exposed them to risks and public scrutiny. They complained that they are often blamed for insecurity incidents despite the tough working conditions. They are now desperate for the intervention of their bosses in Nairobi to address the discrimination. 

Read:  Talk of town: Big man's accounts frozen over political stance

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Questions on firm’s digital system 

Has a European firm with past controversy in African elections pitched to influential Kenyan official an electronic-only format for identifying voters, seeking to eliminate other systems? Talk of Town has learnt that the firm has been lobbying in recent weeks for its system, which it says can weed out ghost voters. But given past problems, the firm has had to face hard questions and is finding it difficult to convince all those involved that it offers the best technological solution. 

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