Tag: Kenya

Kenya’s New Tax Bill Risks Reigniting Gen Z Protests

13May

By adminNo Comments

African Development, Economy, Finance, Kenya, News

Kenya’s New Tax Bill Risks Reigniting Gen Z Protests

Nairobi, Kenya – May 13, 2025 Kenya’s government is walking a tightrope as it prepares to table a new finance bill for the 2025/26 budget, proposing tax hikes on digital services and fuel to address a looming budget deficit. Despite assurances from Finance Minister John Mbadi on May 7, 2025, that the budget would avoid major new taxes to prevent a repeat of the deadly 2024 protests, recent leaks suggest the government may be reversing course. With the memory of last year’s violent Gen Z protests still fresh—where over 60 young Kenyans were killed and parliament was stormed—the proposed bill threatens to reignite a youth-led movement that could plunge the country into further unrest. Analysts warn that the government’s fiscal strategy, set against a backdrop of economic hardship and erod...

Kenya Makes Visitation Easier for Africans

23Jan

By adminNo Comments

Africa, Kenya

Kenya Makes Visitation Easier for Africans

Kenya has announced that it is easing entry requirements for citizens of most African nations in a bid to foster regional integration and boost tourism. The new directive, issued by the Kenyan cabinet, eliminates the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) requirement for nearly all African visitors, allowing them to enter the country without prior approval. Visitors from most African countries can now stay in Kenya for up to two months, while citizens of East African Community (EAC) member states—Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi—can remain for up to six months under the bloc’s free movement protocols. However, travellers from Somalia and Libya are excluded from the policy due to security concerns. The move comes after Kenya faced criticism for its previous travel policies, particula...

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 Ch...

Kenya: Government and WHO Spearhead Emergency Response

8May

By adminNo Comments

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 escala...

Kenya Floods Heighten Cholera Threat: 44 Cases Reported

8May

By adminNo Comments

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 ...

Reopening of Kenyan Schools Postponed Amid Ongoing Flood Crisis

4May

By adminNo Comments

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 while...

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, resu...

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 (KNH)...