If 2024 was the year of “Wait, what?”, then 2025 was the year Kenya officially decided to “Submit.” Whether it was submitting your fingerprints for a digital ID, your patience to a crashing health portal, or your prayers to the rainy season, the year was a rollercoaster that even a Longisa-bound Matatu couldn’t match for speed and drama.
At Jijuze.com, we’ve been the “Mtu wa Mapema” on the ground, and as we usher in 2026, let’s look back at the chaos, the comedy, and the “Clout” that defined the last 12 months.
1. The Digital “Githeri” (SHA & ETA)
We started the year moving from NHIF to SHA. It was like swapping your old, reliable “Kabambe” phone for a high-end smartphone that only works when it wants to. Jijuze reported on the 17 million Kenyans who found themselves in a “digital waiting room” while the system decided if their old NHIF contributions counted.
Then came the ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization). We ditched the Swiss system for a “Made in Kenya” one, and for a few weeks, Jijuze’s comment section looked like a global complaint desk. Travelers were stuck, hotels were crying, and the system was doing more “buffering” than actual processing. Truly, “Technology is a tool, but in Kenya, it’s sometimes a test of faith.”
2. The “Farm-to-Folder” Revolution
Our farmers became data scientists! With 7.1 million farmers in a digital registry, the soil became “smart.” We saw the “Iron Circuit” logistics move more fertilizer than a campaign trail moves promises. We even banned Mancozeb—proving that while we might eat “Managu” with everything, we draw the line at toxic chemicals. Kenya told the world, “We want our exports green and our farmers’ soil non-acidic.”
3. The “M-Pesa for MPs” Allegations
August 18th will be remembered as the day the President dropped a bombshell that made even the most seasoned “Tea-drinkers” choke. Allegations of KSh 10 million bribery to sink bills? It wasn’t just news; it was a script for a movie that would win an Oscar for “Best Performance in a Parliamentary Committee.” Jijuze broke down how corruption went from being a secret whisper to a loud “Pesa imeingia!” notification.
4. The Return of the “Stiff Upper Lip”
Diplomacy got a makeover. The US Embassy stopped the “soft-launch” diplomacy and went full “Parent-Teacher Association.” Memos about state-sponsored “disappearances” and police accountability started flying faster than a “Siku hizi umepotea” text. It was a clear signal that the international “Honeymoon” was over, and the “Household chores” of governance were now under a microscope.
5. Sports, Scams, and Sustainability
- The CHAN Delay: We prepared for the African Nations Championship like we prepare for a wedding—last minute, with a lot of “it will be fine.” Moving it to August gave us time to actually fix the stadiums (we hope).
- The Southeast Asia Trap: On a darker note, Jijuze exposed the heartbreaking syndicates trafficking our youth to scam centers. It was a wake-up call that “Online Jobs” aren’t always what they seem.
- Circular Economy: We ended the year talking about trash—specifically, how to make money from it. Because in Kenya, even a plastic bottle is an “opportunity” if you look at it long enough.
The 2026 “Radar”: What’s Cooking?
As we look forward, the questions are getting juicier:
- Digital Trust: Will the SHA system finally “load” or will we still be carrying “Evidence of Payment” papers like they’re land title deeds?
- The Burnout: Our teachers and doctors are tired. If 2025 was about the “System,” 2026 must be about the “Soul” of the public service.
- Governance by Exposé: With the 2027 elections starting to cast a long shadow, expect more “Raw Intelligence” to be leaked than a Nairobi water pipe.
Bottom line? 2025 proved that Kenya isn’t for the faint-hearted. It’s for the resilient, the digital, and those who know that even when the system is “Under Maintenance,” the hustle continues!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Jijuze 