Known in East Africa as ‘akala’, a cheap footwear made from rubber tyres gains popularity in South Sudan
In Wau, some 650 kilometres (400 miles) from the South Sudanese capital, Juba, shoemaker Emmanuel Achuil works under the shade of a tarpaulin in the town’s bustling main market. His hands blackened from grappling with rubber, Achuil uses a blade to carve pieces from discarded tyres. Colourful straps are scattered around him like pieces of a puzzle.
Congo, Rwanda bicker over withdrawal of M23 rebels from cities in the east hours after signing ceasefire deal in Qatar
In it, both parties committed to “building trust” through various measures, including an exchange of prisoners and detainees as well as restoring state authority in all parts of the country, including rebel-held areas.
Kenya, Tanzania put aside occasional trade and political tiffs to launch terrestrial fibre link
The initiative, implemented through the partnership between Kenya’s ICT Authority (ICTA) and Tanzania Telecommunications Corporation (TTLC) is expected to boost economic integration, e-governance and access to digital services across the East African Community.
Ministry teams up with Murang’a County in central Kenya to unlock sports, ecotourism potential
Murang’a County Governor Irungu Kang’ata noted that the county government has been positioning Murang’a as an investment destination and is now beginning to see results
Storm in coffee cup: Kirinyaga County coffee farmers still in doubt over proposed direct payment
The farmers in the county have said that the new coffee DSS proposal would disadvantage farmers as well as their cooperative societies. Some of the issues raised are the farmers’ ability to access advance payment and affordable loans from their factories as well as farm inputs that are normally deducted from their pay-out.
HIV response: Lenacapavir approved in Kenya and is set for from nest January
PrEP initiation refers to the process of starting someone on medication to prevent HIV infection before they are exposed to the virus. This typically involves assessing an individual’s risk factors, confirming they are HIV-negative and then prescribing and educating them on the appropriate PrEP regimen.
Finance minister now says Kenya’s economy is healthy, days after warning it is in dire straits
John Mbadi said he should not be blamed for any slow development in any region. He told voters to question their legislators and governors if they feel they are not getting their desired development projects.
World at a crossroads as Africa is called to action in fight against HIV after US paused humanitarian support to developing nations
Much of the discussion at IAS 2025 focused on political will. With international funding under pressure – most notably, cuts to US HIV funding in early 2025 – African governments are being urged to lead with urgency. One of the most sobering realities of IAS 2025 was the impact of a political decision on the HIV response.
‘East Africa should harmonise orthodox tea production to tap into expanding global market’
Uganda’s ambassador to Kenya, Amb Eunice Kigenyi said global demand for orthodox tea is growing at over six per cent annually, driven by wellness trends and consumer preferences for traceable and ethically produced goods.
KARLO invests in rice ratoon technology to push up Kenya’s output from current 183,000 tonnes per year
The director noted that KALRO has produced high yielding varieties of rice that are drought tolerant and that with some of the varieties, farmers are able to do direct seeding, while for others they are able to do a ratoon, where immediately they harvest the first crop of rice they only need to add fertilizer and harvest the second time from the ratoon.
