Al Shabaab kills 55 as it expands its terror scope beyond East Africa
After more than two decades of waging terrorist attacks in Kenya, Al Qaeda-affiliated Somali cell Al Shabaab is apparently widening its scope following the killing of over 55 people in Democratic Republic of Congo precious mineral-rich eastern region of Ituri. According to Reuters, the group said to have Ugandan roots,...
Kung’u Karumba fought for Kenya’s independence, but family lives in abject poverty
After years of silence, freedom fighter and businessman, the late Kung’u Karumba’s family has opened up with an appeal to the government to “remember” them. When we sought them out, neighbours talked about the plight of the family of the independence hero who was detained in Kapenguria together with Kenya’s...
Sugarcane farming no longer sweet
FEATURE Hundreds of farmers in Migori County who have been growing sugarcane since 1979 as a cash crop are having second thoughts. From being ‘green gold’ to a lazy man’s crop, sugarcane has now acquired the tag of a poor man’s crop, thanks to abysmal returns from a cash crop...
‘Politics as usual’ isn’t working, covid-19 has laid bare the dark side of Kenya
Covid-19 is exposing the frailty of ultra-corrupt Kenya through poverty and disease. Although corruption can be found in all countries, its effects are particularly devastating in low- and middle-income countries. Health and poverty are interconnected; they are Siamese twins. When a country is unable to develop superior health infrastructure and...
Small scale tea farmers to build $27 million hydro power plant
Plans are underway to build a $26.7 million (Ksh2.8 billion) power generation plant on Chemosit River in Kericho County to supply hydropower to four tea processing factories in Zone Eight of the larger Kericho tea complex.Kericho, approximately 300 kilometres west of the capital Nairobi is located in the expansive Rift...
Sleepy Lamu off Kenyan coast ready to produce 2000mw of electricity
Lamu County is positioning itself as the next frontier for energy production in Kenya. But it will depend on if companies and investors involved in the triad of projects can overcome the agony of executing the projects. The three projects are: the 300-megawatt Kenwind Power project in Baharini, the 1500-megawatt...
Amu coal project to anchor Kenya into industrial age
The 1,500mw Amu Coal project that expected to be built in Kwasasi on Lamu mainland is billed as the magic bullet that will hoist Kenya into industrial age.Despite the evolution in the energy sector globally from fossil-based and hydro-based sources to solar, wind and geothermal, actors in the local power...
Drilling for gas on Island off Kenyan coast takes place
Zarara Oil and Gas drilling project in Pate, a subsidiary of Midway Resources International of the United Kingdom, is on course to finding natural gas following initial drilling that started in Pate-2 in April last year.The initial drilling or spudding as it is known technically was a part of the...
How a World Bank loan connected 1,500 families to safe water in rural Kenya
When Kenya hosted the Blue Economy Conference in its capital, Nairobi, residents of Githunguri sub-county in Kiambu county took pride in a water trust that now delivers the precious commodity at their doorsteps. Githunguri is less than 40 kilometres west of the capital Nairobi There is no gainsaying water is...
Geothermal company offers energy to farmers
Erratic weather and a burgeoning population that requires food employment is ever a ticking time bomb. Nakuru, once synonymous with largescale commercial agriculture and industrialisation has over the years slipped down the rung, now needs rejigging to regain its position as an industrial town.Endowed with a variety of energy sources...
