Kenyan newspapers on Friday, July 4, covered a diverse range of pressing issues, from significant political developments and controversial state projects to harrowing local incidents and legal sagas. Among the top stories were the alleged construction of a substantial church at State House, Nairobi, the chaotic events surrounding a slain blogger's burial in Homa Bay, and the dramatic reappearance of a missing blogger in court.

A major point of contention and widespread public discussion revolved around the reported secret construction of a large church within the grounds of State House, Nairobi, spearheaded by President William Ruto. Dubbed the 'Cathedral' and designed by Skair Architects Limited, the architectural drawings reveal a massive structure capable of accommodating at least 8,000 congregants, estimated to cost a staggering KSh 1.2 billion. Visible from afar, the building features tall windows and a prominent cross-topped main tower, with satellite images indicating construction near the presidential helicopter landing pad. President Ruto had previously expressed his desire to build a church to affirm his Christian faith, having maintained a prayer area at his official residence in Karen during his tenure as Deputy President. This ambitious project, however, has drawn sharp criticism, notably from outspoken comedian Timothy Kimani, famously known as Njugush. He publicly questioned the government's priorities by highlighting the stark contrast between the church's immense cost and the struggles of ordinary Kenyans to access basic healthcare, citing instances where citizens under the Social Health Authority (SHA) were forced to pay for medicine out-of-pocket and kidney patients at public hospitals faced double charges. Njugush's post resonated deeply with many Kenyans, who expressed their frustration and disbelief, with comments ranging from "Who will build the church? Who remembers that song? Kasongo has decided himself! What in the world of burglary is this, guys?" to "Church at State House? Does he think that is his place in Sugoi?" underscoring the public's anger over the perceived misallocation of funds.

In Homa Bay County, the burial of slain teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang' was marred by chaotic scenes. As the procession made its way to the deceased's home, hundreds of enraged mourners intercepted it, diverting the hearse to Mawego Police Station—the very place where Ojwang' had been detained before his ill-fated transfer to Nairobi. Despite pleas from Ojwang's father, Meshack Opiyo, his mother Eucabeth Adhiambo, and his widow Nevnina Onyango, who were in the same vehicle, the youths, joined by students from Mawego Polytechnic, insisted on their course of action. They forcefully removed the coffin from the hearse and carried it for approximately three kilometers to the police station. Upon arrival, the situation escalated further as some began throwing stones at the windows, prompting police officers to flee. The mob then set the police station in Rachuonyo North ablaze before dispersing.

Separately, the disappearance of blogger Ndiangui Kinyagia took a new twist as he resurfaced in court after being missing for over ten days. Through his lawyer, Kinyagia denied being abducted, clarifying that he had gone into hiding out of fear of arrest by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). His disappearance had initially been widely speculated as an abduction, igniting public outrage and prompting the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) to champion litigation to compel authorities to reveal his whereabouts. Justice Chacha Mwita had even ordered Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja and DCI boss Mohamed Amin to produce the blogger. The DCI had initially denied holding Kinyagia but later revealed he was sought as a person of interest in an ongoing probe into the planning of the June 25th protests, specifically regarding social media posts outlining protest itineraries. Reacting to his reappearance, the National Police Service (NPS) criticized Kinyagia, accusing him of staging his abduction to incite public uproar and urged him to present himself at the DCI headquarters.

On the political front, speculation mounted regarding Westlands MP Tim Wanyonyi's potential bid for the Bungoma governorship in 2027. A host of influential lawmakers from Bungoma County have openly endorsed Wanyonyi to succeed the current Governor Ken Lusaka, despite earlier rumors suggesting Wanyonyi might eye the Nairobi governorship. Endorsing MPs include Jack Wamboka (Bumula), Martin Wanyonyi (Webuye East), John Waluke (Sirisia), John Chikati (Tongaren), Dan Wanyama (Webuye West), John Makali (Kanduyi), Majimbo Kalasinga (Kabuchai), and Fred Kapondi (Mt Elgon). John Waluke was quoted as saying, "We want Bungoma to be led by someone with a clean track record, and that person is Timothy Wanyonyi. His leadership style, his vision and his work in empowering youths through investments in Bungoma speak for themselves." Wanyonyi's potential entry into the race is poised to significantly impact the chances of Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa, who was previously considered a leading contender for the seat.

Comedian Njugush, known for his advocacy for better governance, also actively participated in the nationwide protests on Wednesday, June 25th. Ahead of the demonstrations, he humorously shared a photo of his 'protest essentials', which included a Kenyan flag, a timer, basketballs, a jersey, a water bottle, and body oil, emphasizing the peaceful nature of his involvement. He later posted clips from the ground, showing his solidarity with demonstrators, raising his hands in support, and calling for justice and accountability from the government while honoring those who lost their lives during the protests.