Category: Kenya

Nairobi Building Collapses Due to Heavy Rains

15May

By adminNo Comments

Environment, Kenya, Safety

Nairobi Building Collapses Due to Heavy Rains

In a devastating incident amidst heavy rains and flooding in Nairobi, a building collapsed in the Mathare neighborhood, injuring several individuals. The structure, situated perilously close to a river, was among those marked for evacuation and demolition due to safety concerns prompted by the inclement weather. Rescue efforts were swiftly initiated, leading to the rescue of at least four individuals from the debris. Unfortunately, three of them sustained critical injuries, while one person suffered minor injuries. The Kenya Red Cross has expressed concerns that additional individuals may be trapped under the rubble. The collapse occurred while the building was undergoing demolition, as confirmed by the Red Cross. See Also: Kenya: Government and WHO Spearhead Emergency Response ...

10May

By adminNo Comments

Economy, Employment, Kenya, Labour

Kenyan Doctors End Two-Month Strike

Nairobi, Kenya – After a nearly two-month nationwide strike, Kenyan public hospital doctors have agreed to return to work. The decision brings much-needed relief to millions of Kenyans who rely on public healthcare services that have been severely disrupted by the strike. The strike was sparked by a long-standing dispute regarding inadequate pay and poor working conditions for doctors. Davji Atellah, the union secretary-general, confirmed on May 8th that doctors will resume work, placing their trust in the government to finally address the core issues of the strike. The agreement to end the strike came after a labor court issued a 48-hour deadline for the doctors and the government to reach a resolution, or else the court would intervene. See Also: Nationwide Strike: Some State C...

Kenya: Government and WHO Spearhead Emergency Response

8May

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Kenya, News, Safety

Kenya: Government and WHO Spearhead Emergency Response

The ongoing long rainy season in Kenya, which typically spans from March to May, has unleashed unexpected and devastating downpours, leading to widespread flooding since mid-April. The impact has been severe, with over 286,000 people affected, 47,000 households displaced, and a tragic toll of 238 reported deaths across 37 of the country's 47 counties. Dr. Pius Mutuku, a medical epidemiologist in the Ministry of Health, revealed the dire consequences of the flooding, stating that 14 health facilities have shuttered, and a crucial water treatment plant has been compromised, leaving approximately 3,000 people without access to safe drinking water. Additionally, 44 cases of cholera have been confirmed in Tana River County, one of the hardest-hit areas by the floods. To address the escal...

Kenya Floods Heighten Cholera Threat: 44 Cases Reported

8May

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Kenya, News, United Nations

Kenya Floods Heighten Cholera Threat: 44 Cases Reported

The flooding situation in Kenya's Tana River County has intensified concerns over the spread of cholera, with 44 cases already confirmed. In a statement on Tuesday, May 7, the World Health Organization (WHO) highlighted collaborative efforts between Kenyan authorities, WHO, and other agencies to address health challenges exacerbated by the widespread floods. According to Dr. Pius Mutuku, a medical epidemiologist in the Ministry of Health, "Forty-four cholera cases have been reported in Tana River County, one of the most flood-affected areas. The Government of Kenya has mounted a multisectoral emergency response, led by the Kenya Disaster Emergency Operations Centre in the country’s capital, Nairobi." See Also: Kenya Floods Claim 228 Lives: Search for 72 Missing Intensifies The...

Kenya Floods Claim 228 Lives: Search for 72 Missing Intensifies

6May

By adminNo Comments

Environment, Kenya, News, Safety

Kenya Floods Claim 228 Lives: Search for 72 Missing Intensifies

In a tragic update, the death toll from Kenya's devastating floods has surged to at least 228, with 72 individuals currently reported as missing and 164 wounded, Government Spokesman Isaac Mwaura announced on Sunday (May 5). The floods, triggered by weeks of heavier than usual seasonal rains compounded by natural weather phenomena like El-Nino and the Indian Ocean Dipole, have wreaked havoc across East Africa. See Also: Reopening of Kenyan Schools Postponed Amid Ongoing Flood Crisis Mwaura revealed that over 223,000 people have been affected by the catastrophic floods, prompting authorities to enforce evacuation orders issued on May 2nd. In Nairobi County alone, 163,210 residents have been evacuated from vulnerable areas along riverbanks, with the government arranging alternative...

Rampaging Cyclone Hidaya Wreaks Havoc in Tanzania

6May

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Environment, Kenya, News, Safety, Tanzania

Rampaging Cyclone Hidaya Wreaks Havoc in Tanzania

Torrential rains and fierce winds wreaked havoc and exacerbated flooding as Cyclone Hidaya battered Tanzania over the weekend. The country grappled with a widespread power outage on Saturday as it braced itself for the tropical cyclone's impact, which followed weeks of relentless flooding that claimed the lives of over 150 people. Ferry services connecting Tanzania's bustling commercial center, Dar es Salaam, with Zanzibar were halted as the cyclone approached the coastline, packing winds comparable to a Category 1 hurricane. https://twitter.com/tma_services/status/1786894813138235655 According to meteorological authorities, coastal areas experienced an unprecedented deluge overnight Friday, prompting forecasters to issue warnings of further flooding across the region, anticipa...

Reopening of Kenyan Schools Postponed Amid Ongoing Flood Crisis

4May

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Education, Environment, Kenya, News, Safety

Reopening of Kenyan Schools Postponed Amid Ongoing Flood Crisis

Kenyan President William Ruto has postponed next week’s planned reopening of schools until further notice, as heavy rains and floods that have killed more than 200 people continue. The president in his state of the nation address on Friday said that “meteorological reports paint a dire picture,” citing the possibility of Cyclone Hidaya hitting coastal Kenya in coming days. Kenya and other parts of East Africa have been overwhelmed by flooding, with more than 150,000 displaced people living in camps across the country. Schools were to reopen this week, but the education ministry postponed that by a week. Students will now wait for the announcement of new reopening dates as some schools remain flooded and others have been damaged. Some displaced people have been living in schools whil...

Four Million At Risk Amid Kenya Food Crisis – UN

11Jun

By Chukwuebuka FestusNo Comments

Agriculture, Kenya, News

Four Million At Risk Amid Kenya Food Crisis – UN

More than four million people are facing high levels of food insecurity in Kenya, according to new data released by the UN. This figure has risen from just over three million people last year. Over 900,000 children below the age of five have been found to be acutely malnourished. The entire country’s north, and much of the north-eastern regions, are facing food insecurity at crisis or emergency levels, the data classification shows. The March to May rainfall has been low, irregular and poorly distributed in much of the distressed regions, which has affected production of food. Read Also: Northern Ugandans Face Starvation As Hunger Bites – UN Aside from a prolonged drought, the crisis has been worsened by a rise in food prices because of the spike in the cost of fuel,...

Kenya’s IEBC Uncovers 250,000 Dead Kenyans in Election Register

10Jun

By Chukwuebuka FestusNo Comments

Elections, Kenya, News

Kenya’s IEBC Uncovers 250,000 Dead Kenyans in Election Register

Kenya's electoral agency says an ongoing audit of its voters' roll has found the names of nearly 250,000 deceased voters on the register. Nearly half a million more voters were found to have duplicate records and more than 226,000 people were registered using documents that do not belong to them. Others had registered with invalid documents, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) said in a statementon the anomalies that affect more than a million people. IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati said that because of the “implementation of the preliminary audit findings” the commission would delay certifying the final register for publication. Read Also: Pro-marijuana Candidate Cleared For Kenyan Poll The commission said earlier that it would publish the re...

Kenya Crash Kills 11 Returning From Dowry Ceremony

6Jun

By Chukwuebuka FestusNo Comments

Kenya, News, Safety, Transportation

Kenya Crash Kills 11 Returning From Dowry Ceremony

At least 11 people have been killed in central Kenya when the minibus they were travelling in overturned. Police in Kitui county say the victims, who were related to each other, were returning from a dowry payment ceremony during the night. Police say the vehicle was being driven at high speed, resulting in loss of control and the fatal crash that occurred at 11pm. “The matatu rolled over, killing ten on the spot. The eleventh victim died during treatment at the Matuu Level 4 Hospital,” area chief Jacob Mueti said. Read Also: Okada Riders Raze Houses In Abuja Over Killing Of Two Colleagues The administrator said a few other passengers were injured and taken to Matuu hospital, with some, who sustained serious injuries, being transferred to the Kenyatta National Hospital ...