Kelvin Kiptum: the Kenyan runner who redefined what it takes to win marathons

Kelvin Kiptum: the Kenyan runner who redefined what it takes to win marathons

By Wycliffe W. Njororai Simiyu, Stephen F. Austin State University Kenyan athletics has lost Kelvin Kiptum, the marathon world record holder who was destined to be the first person to run the race in under two hours. The runner, aged only 24, died on 10 February in a car accident that also claimed his coach Gervais Hakizimana, 37, from Rwanda. The accident occurred near one of the high-altitude […]

February 14, 2024 23

Africa

Kenya’s sex workers have solutions to their problems, but international NGOs aren’t hearing them

By Lise Woensdregt, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam In Kenya, rights organisations run by sex workers have gone into numerous partnerships with international organisations over the past decade. In recent research, I set out to understand whether these relationships worked in favour of the sex workers and their organisations. My research focused on an organisation in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, that supports male sex workers. Kenya’s laws punish activities related to […]

February 13, 2024 15

Africa

Black rhinos moved to Kenya’s Loisaba Conservancy as species recovers

A black rhino in Loisaba Conservancy. Image courtesy of San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. By Graeme Green via Mongabay Twenty-one critically endangered black rhinos have been safely delivered to Loisaba Conservancy in northern Kenya from other parts of the country, part of a wider mission to secure the long-term future of the species in Kenya. “It’s been a massive operation,” says Tom Silvester, CEO of Loisaba Conservancy, who oversaw the […]

February 13, 2024 32

Business / Economics

Investment in African women-founded and led startups remains a bright spot in a global ecosystem drained of funding.

By Conrad Onyango, via bird story agency Africa’s women-led startups retained their sparkle through 2023, against the backdrop of one of the darkest periods for global startup funding, raising US$200 million, 7% growth over the previous year, according to a report from Africa: The Big Deal. In 2022, these female-founded ventures had grown by 4%. The amount remains significantly lower than the US$ 2.7 billion raised […]

February 9, 2024 6

Entertainment

Rapper Kanye West lists Kenya, and Nigeria as tour venues

US rapper Kanye West has excited his fans in Kenya and Nigeria after listing the two countries among the potential concert venues for his new tour. According to the BBC, a tentative venue list shared on West's Instagram stories shows that the rapper plans to perform at Eko Energy City in Lagos and the Nyayo International Stadium in Nairobi. West also shared interest in performing at Egypt's Giza Pyramids.

February 8, 2024 29

Oshiwambo

Yiindikwa oku kutwa miilonga yepangelo mo Kenya omolwa oo tattoo

Aagundjuka yamwe aa Kenya oya patelwa pondje mekutomiilonga mehangano lyepangelo molwaashoka oya shangwa komalutu nenge yena o tattooes. O BBC oya lopota kutya nonando yaadha iipumbiwa yelongo,noya pita wo okakonakono kopalutu okuwayimina o National Youth Service,itaya vulu okutaambwa molwaashoka oya thanekwa komalutu. Noyiindiile omalelo opo ga talulule etokolo ndyoka. Omalelo inaga gandja etompelo okwiindika mboka ya shangwa nenge ya thanekwa komalutu,ashike oyuuvaneke taya gandja omushangwa pehulilo lyekutomiilonga. Ekutomiilonga mo National […]

February 7, 2024 21

Africa

Kenya’s healthcare workers abuse a third of teen mums from informal settlements – study

By Anthony Idowu Ajayi, African Population and Health Research Center and Caroline W. Kabiru, African Population and Health Research Center Adolescent pregnancy is a global public health concern: in 2022, about 13% of girls and young women gave birth before the age of 18. Compared with women in their early 20s, adolescents are more susceptible to maternal deaths. Pregnancy-related complications are among the leading causes of death […]

January 30, 2024 42

Africa

Will Kenya’s strategic mining reforms catalyse a sector renaissance?

By Bonface Orucho, via bird story agency Kenya's mining and extractives sector is flourishing, reaping the rewards of recent reforms that promise to increase sector revenues as the country positions itself for economic gains from the burgeoning industry. From legal and legislative reforms to seamless mapping and surveying of available resources, the East African country is showing increased interest in tapping into new revenue-generating opportunities in the sector. […]

January 30, 2024 9

South Africa

South Africa ramps up commercial solar installations to counter load shedding

By Conrad Onyango, via bird story agency South Africa is leading other countries in a radical shift towards more reliable energy sources as its business and industry owners contributed the highest addition of the 3.7-Gigawatt peak (GWp) in new solar capacity on the continent in 2023. The Africa Solar Industry Association (AFSIA) annual Solar Outlook 2024 released recently revealed that South Africa more than doubled its new solar installations, from […]

January 24, 2024 21