Kenya’s private sector activity contracts at slower pace in January compared to December
The survey said many companies also encountered slowing sales due to lower customer spending and cashflow problems, while others experienced higher sales.
Medical charity MSF warns 13 children die daily at camp in Sudan for displaced people
MSF says that Zamzam, a camp of more than 300,000 people, was originally formed by people fleeing ethnically targeted violence in the region in 2003. However, since war broke out between Sudan’s military and paramilitary forces in April 2023, camp residents have been cut off from vital humanitarian aid and medical care, the group said in a statement.
World Bank President Banga denies IFC cover up of rampant sexual abuse in Kenya school investments
Civil society groups have expressed concern, opens new tab that IFC ignored evidence of child sexual abuse at some of Bridge’s Kenya schools until the World Bank’s Office of Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO) received complaints from parents in 2018 and opened an investigation, opens new tab.
Why Kenyan President Ruto’s copy-and-paste Singaporean low-cost housing model faces resistance from taxpayers, courts
The history of affordable housing in Singapore is – too – replete with instances of colonial government involvement. However, the policies were modified to align with the programme with rapid economic growth that resulted in a rapidly rising housing demand powered by booming economy and sharp rise in labour-force from foreign countries.
Loud on climate change, Kenyan president contradicts himself by sanctioning paved road construction through forest
The Kenyan government wants to build a 32-mile tarmac road through what has been suggested as a UNESCO World Heritage Site to connect two counties, and the country’s environmental agency, the National Environment Management Authority, issued an environmental impact assessment licence for the project last month. The project would cut through 15 miles of closed canopy forest and likely increase vehicle traffic into animal paths.
Eritrean troops accused of abducting farmers and stealing livestock in Ethiopia’s Tigray
In one incident, on January 22, eight herders were abducted with their donkeys and camels. In another, on December 6, six people were abducted along with 56 livestock. In a third, on December 5, Eritrean soldiers stole 100 animals.
World music revolution: How and why Africa had fastest-growing recorded music revenues in 2022
There is also Afrobeat – different from Afrobeats – a blend of jazz, funk and traditional West African rhythms popularised by Nigerian musical icon and political agitator Fela Kuti in the 1970s. Then there’s Afropop, a rich variety of contemporary styles. The traditional soukous dance music out of Congo and other parts of Central Africa. The rhythmical and heavily vocal shaabi and chaabi heard on the streets of North Africa. Kenya’s benga and Tanzania’s bongo flava reverberate across dance floors in East Africa, just as fuji and highlife do in West Africa.
Kenya’s president blames corruptionfor huge fireball that killed 4, injured hundreds in Nairobi
The National Environment Management Authority board said in a statement it had suspended four officials, including the director of environmental compliance. The chairman of the board, Emilio Mugo, asked police to investigate the four.
Iran-made Shahed-136 is the ‘loitering munition’ of choice Houthis use to attack merchant ships
The Shahed-136 , which has been extensively used by Russian forces in Ukraine, can be fired from truck-mounted containers at a slightly upward angle. A small rocket booster helps propel the drone into the air before being jettisoned. Its main piston engine then takes over to power the flight.
Executive blitz on Kenyan judiciary poses threats to wobbly economy as fears mount it’ll hurt further foreign capital inflows
The ruling irritated the executive, with Ruto and Gachagua launching tirades – without proof – against the judiciary. Justice Majanja and Justice Esther Maina have come under unsavoury attacks, raising suspicions that the president is creating an excuse to staff the judiciary – particularly the commercial and taxes court – with his henchmen.
