insert_link Local Eliud Kipchoge’s quest for a third Olympic gold is achievable – running experts explain By Stephen Granger, bird story agency The 2024 Paris Games are fast approaching and Kenyan marathoners are poised to shine, given the rich pool of talent in the country's Olympic team. Could this be 39-year-old Eliud Kipchoge's moment to make history as the first athlete to win three Olympic Marathon titles? The questions for Kenya's famed runners don't stop there, however. Another question is […] today2 July, 2024
insert_link Africa Kenya’s Ruto proposes youth dialog forum Kenya’s President William Ruto has suggested creating a multi-sectoral group to facilitate dialog with the country’s youth following weeks of anti-government protests. Nation newspaper reports that the proposed 100-member national forum will include nominees from student leadership, as well as civil society, religious organisations, professional bodies, businesses, academia, national assembly leadership, and the council of governors. The announcement follows last week's unprecedented scenes that left parts of Parliament ablaze as […] today1 July, 2024
insert_link Africa Hotbed of corruption: Kenya’s elite have captured the state – unrest is inevitable By Gedion Onyango, London School of Economics and Political Science A strong undercurrent driving the unprecedented anti-tax protests in Kenya is outrage over theft of public resources coupled with the extravagant lifestyles of public servants. There are widespread frustrations that President William Ruto also failed to deliver on his electoral promises to address corruption. He’s even earned a new nickname — “Zakayo”, a reference […] today1 July, 2024
insert_link Local ATIDI underwrites Globeleq’s USD 117 million geothermal power project in Kenya Nairobi-based pan-African insurer, African Trade and Investment Development Insurance (ATIDI) has provided a political risk insurance cover for Globeleq's 35 MW Menengai Geothermal power project in Kenya. This support will be extended via the Regional Liquidity Support Facility (RLSF) - a joint effort by ATIDI, KfW Development Bank, and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad). It helps renewable energy Independent Power Producers (IPPs). The project, the first to […] today1 July, 2024
insert_link Africa Kenya’s protests happened in every major urban centre – why these spaces are explosive By Lena Gutheil, German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS) Kenya has a long history of protests. Mass protests took place during the colonial period and continued in the post-independence era. Important democratic gains were achieved through protests, such as the introduction of multi-party politics in 1991. Many will also remember the violent clampdown that followed the disputed 2007 elections, which left more […] today28 June, 2024
insert_link Africa Kenyan farmers turn to WhatsApp & AI tools to combat crop diseases Farmers in Kenya and other countries are using online chat groups and artificial intelligence (AI) tools to help combat crop losses due to pests and diseases. New research shows chat groups modeled on those used in human health care can offer benefits to farmers and enhance their communication with plant doctors. Organizations such as PlantVillage and CABI are using such digital tools and chat groups to expand their […] today27 June, 2024
insert_link Africa Kenya protests: Ruto pulling the finance bill is unlikely to satisfy angry young protesters – here’s why By Kathleen Klaus, Uppsala University In a move that shocked observers, Kenya’s President William Ruto announced on 26 June he was withdrawing his government’s highly controversial finance bill. This followed two days in which tens of thousands of mostly young protesters took to the streets in nationwide rallies against the proposals contained in the country’s 2024 budget. Kathleen Klaus, who has studied […] today27 June, 2024
insert_link Africa Kenya state-backed rights body says 22 killed in Tuesday protests Twenty-two people were killed in Tuesday's protests in Kenya, a state-funded rights organisation said, vowing an investigation into what it described as "the largest number of deaths (in) a single day protest." "We have recorded 22 deaths... we are going to launch an inquiry," said Roseline Odede, chairwoman of the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, adding that 19 people had died in the capital Nairobi, where […] today26 June, 2024
insert_link Africa Kenyan police and protests: researchers on a violent, corrupt security force that’s beyond reform By Moina Spooner, The Conversation Kenya’s police are being criticised for their violent response to protests over the past week against government proposals to raise US$2.7 billion in additional taxes. Hundreds of thousands of people, across 35 of Kenya’s 37 counties, have poured out onto the streets in opposition to the tax hikes. The police have reacted with force, using live bullets and […] today26 June, 2024
