NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 31 — The government is stepping up preparations to protect learners, teachers and schools from disruptions as Kenya braces for a potentially strong El Niño weather event expected in October and November.The Ministry of Education and the Kenya Red Cross Society are working on measures to safeguard school communities and ensure learning continues, including the administration of national examinations and assessments, despite the anticipated heavy rains.Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba said the ministry was reviewing its disaster preparedness plans in consultation with humanitarian partners as the country prepares for the expected weather event.Ogamba said the education sector was particularly vulnerable to climate-related disasters, which can threaten the safety of learners and teachers while damaging school infrastructure and interrupting learning.“The education sector is exposed to disasters occasioned by climate change and related risks. Disaster preparedness and management are therefore indispensable to ensuring the safety and security of learners, teachers and school property, and the seamless delivery of education and training,” Ogamba said.He issued the statement after meeting Kenya Red Cross Society Secretary General Ahmed Idris at Jogoo House B in Nairobi to discuss preparedness for the forecast El Niño conditions.“This afternoon, I held a meeting with the Secretary General of the Kenya Red Cross Society, Dr. Ahmed Idris, at the Ministry’s Jogoo House B offices, to discuss the Ministry’s preparedness in light of the forecast of a strong El Nino weather event expected in October and November,” he said.Ogamba said the ministry would work with the Red Cross and other partners to put in place measures to minimise the impact of extreme weather on schools.“The Ministry, together with partners such as the Kenya Red Cross Society, will implement all measures necessary to ensure that learners, teachers and school communities are safe, and that education programmes, including national examinations and assessments, proceed without interruption,” he said.The preparations come weeks after the government identified 18 counties and several urban centres as being at heightened risk from the anticipated El Niño rains.The National Disaster Operations Centre has identified areas in the Coast, Lake Basin, Rift Valley and North Eastern regions as vulnerable to hazards including flooding, landslides, disease outbreaks, infrastructure damage and displacement.Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu have also been classified as high-risk urban centres, with authorities warning of possible flooding, blocked drainage systems and disruption of essential services.The Kenya Meteorological Service has forecast an 81 per cent chance of a strong El Niño event, with a 97 per cent probability that its effects could persist into early next year, according to an Interior Ministry assessment issued earlier this month.For the education sector, the anticipated rains could expose schools to flooding, damage to classrooms and other infrastructure, impassable roads and disruption of attendance, particularly in vulnerable areas.
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya, August 31 – Nairobi is racing against time to clear tonnes of garbage from its drainage system and waterways before the rains return, exposing the scale of the city’s waste management crisis and the threat it poses to flood-prone neighbourhoods. The county government says it is collecting about 3,000 tonnes of garbage every day, triple the roughly 1,000 tonnes previously collected, as it steps up efforts to clear blocked drains, river channels and illegal dumping sites. But the sheer volume of waste being removed points to a deeper problem: Nairobi is generating and dumping rubbish faster than the city’s waste management system can contain it. In some of the areas most vulnerable to flooding, garbage has accumulated in huge quantities along waterways and drainage corridors. Embakasi South alone has recorded more than 4,500 loads of waste removed since April, according to figures provided by County Executive Committee Member for Green Nairobi Maureen Njeri. At Kware Bridge, 1,538 loads have been cleared, while another 2,970 loads have been removed from English Press in Mukuru Kwa Reuben. The county has also been clearing waste collection points along the Ngong River, where rubbish poses the risk of being washed downstream and blocking already strained drainage infrastructure. The problem is not confined to the city’s eastern suburbs. Along the Nairobi River, 216...
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 31 — Kenya’s aviation strike entered its second day on Monday, with hundreds of passengers facing delays and cancellations as the Ministry of Roads and Transport remained publicly silent on the disruption.However, Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei said the government was working to reach an amicable settlement.Sing’oei, who is not in charge of the transport docket, offered the clearest public indication from government that efforts were underway to resolve the dispute, as disruption at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) continued.“We convey our sincere apologies to travelers for inconvenience caused by the ongoing industrial action at JKIA and assure that government is doing what it can to reach an amicable settlement on this matter,” Sing’oei said.The Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) strike, which began on Sunday, has disrupted air traffic services at JKIA and other airports, leaving passengers stranded and forcing airlines to delay or cancel flights.Some passengers had been at JKIA for more than 12 hours as the disruption entered its second day.The Ministry of Roads and Transport had not issued a substantive public statement on the strike by Monday evening, despite the disruption directly affecting the country’s aviation and transport network.Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), however, acknowledged that the disruption to air traffic control services was continuing to affect operations at JKIA.“As a result, some flights are experiencing delays and cancellations,” KAA said, advising passengers to contact their airlines and confirm their flight status before travelling to the airport.KAA said it was working with airlines and other aviation stakeholders to mitigate the disruption and facilitate safe, secure and orderly airport operations.The impact has been felt by airlines operating through Kenya’s main international gateway.RwandAir cancelled two pairs of flights scheduled for Monday, citing operational challenges affecting air traffic control services at JKIA. The airline said affected passengers would be accommodated on the next available flights.Kenya Airways has also reported delays of more than six hours at JKIA and said the resulting backlog had forced it to reschedule and cancel some flights.The national carrier advised passengers not to go to the airport unless they had a confirmed flight and urged travellers to check their flight status before departure.The continuing disruption has also triggered concern from Kenya’s aviation and tourism industry.The Kenya Association of Air Operators (KAAO), African Airlines Association (AFRAA) and Kenya Tourism Federation (KTF) have called for an urgent end to the industrial action, warning that prolonged disruption could threaten safety, connectivity and Kenya’s reputation as a regional aviation hub.“Safety cannot be improvised,” said Liz Aluvanze, Chief Executive Officer of KAAO.The industry bodies said the latest disruption was particularly concerning because similar industrial action occurred in February, making the possibility of another disruption foreseeable.They called for tested contingency plans and better communication between aviation authorities, airlines and other industry players.The February strike provides an indication of the potential economic cost of the latest disruption.KAAO’s preliminary assessment of 16 operators recorded 150 flight cancellations and 382 delays, with direct losses estimated at about $5.1 million.That estimate did not include losses from aircraft diversions, crew disruption, network recovery or wider effects on tourism, trade and medical operations.AFRAA Secretary General Abdérahmane Berthé said disruption at JKIA could have consequences across the continent because of the airport’s role as a regional aviation gateway.“Kenya’s role as a continental aviation hub means that disruptions here are felt well beyond its borders, affecting connectivity, trade and travellers across Africa’s aviation network,” Berthé said.
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 31 — Kenya’s aviation industry has called for an urgent end to an ongoing air traffic services strike, warning that prolonged disruption at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) is threatening flight safety, passenger connectivity and the country’s reputation as a regional aviation hub.The Kenya Association of Air Operators (KAAO), African Airlines Association (AFRAA) and Kenya Tourism Federation (KTF) said the industrial action by the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU), which began on August 30, has caused delays, cancellations, diversions, rerouting and prolonged aircraft holding at JKIA and other Kenyan airports.The industry bodies said the disruption was particularly concerning because air traffic services are safety-critical and require tested contingency arrangements to prevent operational risks from being transferred to airlines, crews and passengers.“Safety cannot be improvised,” said Liz Aluvanze, Chief Executive Officer of KAAO.“Operators, crews and passengers should not carry the burden of a foreseeable disruption when timely notices, tested contingency measures and coordinated airport response should have been in place.”The associations said the latest strike was foreseeable following similar industrial action in February, which should have prompted authorities to activate and communicate effective contingency plans.They cited Regulation 40 of the Kenya Civil Aviation (Air Traffic Services) Regulations, which requires the air traffic services authority to develop contingency plans for actual or potential disruption of air traffic services and coordinate them with affected airspace users and neighbouring air traffic service authorities.According to the aviation bodies, operators were not briefed on an activated contingency plan during the latest disruption, while delayed issuance of the relevant Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) left airlines with less time to adjust flight plans, fuel requirements, alternate airports, crew rosters and passenger arrangements.They also called for more regular briefings from the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) covering airport capacity, aircraft parking, gates, stands, apron congestion, ground handling, cargo facilities and the expected recovery sequence.The disruption has already affected Kenya’s national carrier, Kenya Airways, which said some flights were facing delays of more than six hours at JKIA because of the backlog created by the industrial action.The airline said it had been forced to reschedule and cancel some flights and advised passengers not to travel to the airport unless they had a confirmed flight.Kenya Airways said passengers could check their flight status through its website or mobile application and change or reschedule flights without penalty.“Safety of our passengers and crew remains our highest priority,” the airline said, apologising to customers for the disruption.The latest disruption has revived concerns over the wider economic consequences of instability at Kenya’s main aviation gateway.During the February 16–17 KAWU industrial action, KAAO’s preliminary assessment of 16 operators recorded 150 flight cancellations and 382 delays, resulting in approximately $5.1 million in direct losses.The figure did not include costs linked to aircraft diversions, crew disruption and network recovery, or wider losses to tourism, trade and medical operations.The industry bodies warned that repeated disruptions could undermine confidence in JKIA and weaken Kenya’s position as a gateway to East and Central Africa.“Kenya’s role as a continental aviation hub means that disruptions here are felt well beyond its borders, affecting connectivity, trade and travellers across Africa’s aviation network,” said Abdérahmane Berthé, Secretary General of AFRAA.“We join KAAO and KTF in calling for an urgent, amicable resolution and for contingency arrangements that protect the continent’s air transport system.”The groups said reliable air connectivity is critical to Kenya’s tourism industry, time-sensitive exports, humanitarian and medical flights, trade and investment.They called on KCAA, KAA, KAWU, the government and other aviation stakeholders to urgently resolve the dispute while ensuring safety-critical services remain protected during industrial action.The associations also urged authorities to strengthen contingency planning and airport coordination to ensure future disruptions do not leave airlines and passengers bearing avoidable operational and financial risks.“KAAO, AFRAA and KTF remain available to work constructively with all parties to restore safe, orderly and predictable operations,” the organisations said.They warned that Kenya’s ambition to remain a leading regional aviation gateway must be matched by an aviation system that is “prepared, accountable and resilient.”
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 30 – Nairobi Gubernatorial Hopeful Babu Owino has issued a stern warning to bloggers and political operatives he accused of playing both sides of the political divide, telling them they cannot simultaneously champion the Linda Mwananchi opposition movement and support President William Ruto’s administration.Speaking during the Linda Mwananchi rally in Meru on Sunday, Babu said the movement would not tolerate individuals he described as “traitors” who had infiltrated its ranks to undermine its political mobilisation.“You cannot be a blogger for Linda Mwananchi and at the same time a blogger for the government,” Babu said.He told the alleged double dealers to choose where their loyalty lay, insisting that supporters of the movement must commit themselves fully to its political cause.“If you support us, give us 100 per cent support; if you don’t support us, support Ruto because we don’t want one foot there and another foot here,” he said.The Embakasi East MP accused unnamed individuals of being sent to the movement to “bring nonsense and play games”, warning that Linda Mwananchi would not be intimidated or derailed.The remarks came as the opposition movement took its grassroots mobilisation campaign to Meru, seeking to build a broader national network ahead of the 2027 General Election. The Meru rally brought together Babu, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and former Meru governor Kawira Mwangaza, among other opposition figures.Babu used the platform to reaffirm his support for Sifuna, dismissing any suggestion of a rift between the two politicians.“There is nobody else here in Linda Mwananchi who knows this young man the way I know him, the things we have gone through with him in the ODM party until today. My brother Sifuna, I am with you 100 per cent,” he said.He also called for opposition leaders to close ranks ahead of the 2027 presidential contest, arguing that President Ruto could only be defeated if rival opposition formations united.
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 30 – Former Deputy President and Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua has tasked his senior party officials with keeping the political movement active as he continues his extended tour of the United States.In a statement on Sunday, Gachagua said his deputy party leader Cleophas Malala and Secretary General-designate Senator John Methu would lead the party’s engagements in his absence.“While away engaging Kenyans in the United States of America, I have tasked my team led by my Deputy Party Leader Cleophas Malala and DCP Party Secretary General Designate Senator John Methu to continue listening to the people and speaking for them,” Gachagua said.The former Deputy President left Kenya on August 26 alongside his wife, Pastor Dorcas Rigathi, for an extended US stay expected to last about 50 days.Gachagua is scheduled to engage Kenyans living in several parts of the US as he seeks to consolidate support among the diaspora ahead of the 2027 General Election.According to the itinerary released by DCP, his political and diaspora engagements will begin in Spokane, Washington, from September 4 to 10, followed by Portland, Oregon, from September 10 to 16. He will then proceed to Kansas from September 16 to 24, Dallas, Texas, from September 24 to October 1, and finally Boston, Massachusetts, from October 1 to 9.The tour comes after Gachagua conducted an extensive political mobilisation campaign across the country, with the former Deputy President now turning his attention to Kenyans living abroad.He has previously said the extended stay in America will allow him to consult the diaspora and make political decisions away from what he described as undue influence from people around him.Gachagua has also linked the trip to preparations for the 2027 elections, saying he intends to use the period to reflect on his political future and chart the way forward.Back home, Malala and Methu have already stepped up party activities during his absence. Methu, for instance, has been holding meetings with DCP-allied MPs as the party works to strengthen its structures and maintain its political momentum ahead of the elections.DCP has sought to present itself as a rapidly expanding national political vehicle ahead of the 2027 General Election. The party said in May 2026 that its internal membership had surpassed 4.5 million, with Gachagua putting the figure at 4,576,345 registered members. He also claimed that the party was attracting support beyond its traditional Mount Kenya base, including in parts of the North Rift and South Rift.The figure represents a significant increase from July 2025, when DCP said it had attracted more than 1.8 million members within its first two months. At the time, the party was already seeking to demonstrate a national footprint by fielding candidates in by-elections, including in Banisa and Malava.The party has also been attempting to build structures outside Mount Kenya by bringing in politicians from different regions. In its May leadership changes, DCP appointed officials from Kakamega, Narok and Wajir, among other areas, in an apparent effort to project the party as a national rather than regional outfit.Its leadership has increasingly been visible in different parts of the country. Malala, for instance, has undertaken political mobilisation in Western Kenya and in August publicly backed Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna’s presidential bid, saying he would support Sifuna and rally Luhya youth behind him.At the same time, DCP’s growth has brought greater political scrutiny. The party has experienced disputes involving nominations, defections and disagreements among senior officials, highlighting the difficulties of transforming a relatively young party into a nationwide political machine.
Read briefing Zambian opposition leader Brian Mundubile has been charged with treason, his lawyer has said amid heightened political tensions in the country.Mundubile was arrested on Thursday, after a deadly raid by the authorities led the opposition politician to go into hiding.He had disputed the results of the country’s recent presidential election, which saw incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema securing a second term.The authorities then accused Mundubile’s NRPUP party of planning an armed insurgency, which it denied.On Saturday night, Mundubile’s lawyer Milner Katolo announced that his client had been charged with treason. The opposition leader looks forward to answering the accusation in court, Katolo told the Zambian Eye.The lawyer said 17 others, including Mundubile’s running mate Makebi Zulu, had also been charged with treason.Mundubile gained 38% of the vote in the 13 August election, while Hichilema secured 60%, official results show.The day after the poll, security forces raided a property in the capital, Lusaka, linked to Mundubile, killing a former cabinet minister and arresting a number of other politicians.Following the raid, Mundubile and Zulu took refuge at a United Nations building in the city. The pair were detained after the president put pressure on the UN to hand them over.The opposition was unable to mount a legal challenge to the election outcome as the courts were sealed off by the authorities on Monday, the final day that a case could be filed.Regional and international observers described the election day as largely peaceful, but Zambia’s Human Rights Commission has called for accountability over people whose whereabouts remain unknown following arrests and security operations around the elections.
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 30 – Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has accused President William Ruto’s administration of misplaced priorities, questioning the decision to spend billions of shillings on new police uniforms at a time when thousands of students are struggling to raise school fees and young people remain unemployed.Speaking in Meru during the opposition’s Linda Mwananchi campaign, Owino claimed the government had allocated Sh2.5 billion to the new police uniforms, arguing that the money could have been channeled into job creation, factories and other programmes to benefit young people.“Students have not entered university and colleges because their parents have no school fees. Then the government spends 2.5 billion to bring police uniforms. Is this foolishness or not?” the Nairobi Gubernatorial hopeful asked.President William Ruto unveiled the new Kenya Police Service general-duty uniform at the Kenya Police Training College in Kiganjo on Friday, August 28, with more than 6,000 recruits becoming among the first officers to wear the new design.The National Police Service said the change followed recommendations from a 2023 public participation exercise in which officers expressed dissatisfaction with the previous outfit.The new uniform replaces the Persian-blue outfit introduced in 2018 and consists of a light-blue shirt and deep-navy trousers. The rollout is expected to cover about 60,000 general-duty officers.However, Babu questioned whether changing police attire should be a government priority, arguing that the same resources could have been used to address unemployment.“Since 1963, in Kenya, we are still looking for police uniforms. What was wrong with the recent uniforms? What was wrong with the ones that were newly introduced?” he asked.He also questioned why the government had not instead used the money to improve the welfare of police officers.“Why didn’t they take that money and increase the police salaries?” he asked, claiming that a police officer’s salary increase of Sh1,000 would leave only about Sh800 after taxes.Babu said the money could have been invested in manufacturing and job creation in Meru.“If you use 2.5 billion here in Meru to open factories one factory would take even 200 million therefore, you can build 12 factories that will employ over 10,000 people from Meru. Isn’t that development?” he asked.His remarks came amid growing scrutiny over the cost and procurement of the new police attire. Sources had estimated a set at Sh25,000, meaning that providing two sets for about 60,000 general-duty officers could cost approximately Sh3 billion.Opposition leaders have also demanded greater transparency over the tender. Democratic Action Party-Kenya leader Eugene Wamalwa has called for disclosure of the company awarded the contract and the procurement process used.Police headquarters dismissed reports that Nalitex Limited won the tender to manufacture the new Kenya Police Service General Duty uniforms, saying the contract was lawfully awarded to Bedi Investments Limited.The National Police Service (NPS), through the Office of the Inspector General, said Nalitex Limited did not feature in any stage of the process involving the development, selection, procurement or manufacture of the new police uniforms.“For clarity, the new police uniforms are being manufactured by M/s Bedi Investments Limited, which was lawfully awarded the contract by the National Police Service,” the NPS said.The clarification follows recent media reports concerning the procurement and manufacture of the new Kenya Police Service General Duty uniform.The NPS said the decision to change the General Duty uniform was made as part of a broader police reform programme considered by the Maraga Task Force on Police Reforms, chaired by former Chief Justice David Maraga.According to the Service, police officers were consulted during the process and overwhelmingly expressed dissatisfaction with the existing uniform and preference for a change.The task force subsequently recommended reverting to the previous uniform colours.The NPS said the change was therefore neither sudden nor arbitrary, but one of several measures arising from the wider police reform process.Following the reform process, the Kenya Police Service Uniform Committee worked with the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) to develop the required standards for the new uniform.The NPS maintained that the development, selection and procurement process followed the recommendations of the police reform process.The Service also sought to draw a distinction between the company named in recent media reports and the firm undertaking the uniform contract.It reiterated that Bedi Investments Limited was lawfully awarded the contract and is responsible for manufacturing the new police uniforms.The statement comes amid increased public scrutiny of the new police uniform and questions surrounding its procurement.The NPS said the facts surrounding the change of uniform, its development and subsequent procurement were “clear and verifiable.”
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 30 – Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has challenged President William Ruto to abandon plans to unveil a long-term Vision 2060 blueprint and instead concentrate on delivering the promises that propelled him to State House in 2022.Sifuna said the Kenya Kwanza administration had been given a five-year mandate to implement its campaign promises but had failed to deliver, arguing that Kenyans should not be subjected to another long-term plan before the government addresses the challenges facing them today.“Right now he is lying to you here that he wants to write Vision 2060. We gave you five years; you failed at the plan you had. We will not allow you to write another plan for us,” Sifuna said.He was speaking in Meru during Linda Mwananchi political mobilisation tour where he criticised the President over his administration’s record while urging residents to support the opposition’s “Linda Mwananchi” campaign.Sifuna said the opposition would instead seek to develop a new national plan that reflects the aspirations of a younger generation.“Allow us, as the new generation, to write the plan for the future of this country because yours failed you,” he said.The UDA government has increasingly framed its long-term development agenda around Vision 2030 and discussions on a successor framework extending to 2060. However, Sifuna argued that Kenyans were more concerned about immediate economic hardships and the failure to fulfil campaign pledges made to ordinary citizens.He recalled the 2022 presidential campaign in which Dr Ruto presented himself as the champion of the “hustler” and promised to transform the lives of ordinary Kenyans.“Ruto went around Mount Kenya… saying ‘hustler’ and you also chanted ‘hustler’, correct? Now we are telling Ruto that fire is fought with fire,” Sifuna said.He said the opposition would use the same grassroots language that helped Ruto win the 2022 election to challenge his administration in the next electoral contest.“The way you went around singing ‘hustler’, we are coming singing one. Ruto! Ruto! Ruto! Don’t talk to us about slogans; slogans ended,” Sifuna said.Sifuna accused the President of failing to honour promises made during the 2022 campaign, including commitments targeting boda boda riders, small traders, healthcare and education.“You said boda boda riders would become taxi owners once you took office. You said shopkeepers like these, upon finishing, would own supermarkets. A blatant lie,” he said.The Nairobi senator also criticised the administration over its handling of protests and alleged police brutality, saying the opposition’s alternative government would be founded on respect for constitutional rights.He said a democratic Kenya should allow citizens to criticise those in power without fear of arrest or intimidation.“This means that when you say something critical, a Subaru is not dispatched to carry you away,” Sifuna said.He further accused Ruto of selectively invoking the Constitution while failing to uphold its values.“Let me tell you, William Ruto, we were told you are a doctor of trees and leaves. He has already failed at his primary job concerning trees and leaves,” he said.Sifuna also turned his criticism to the composition of the Cabinet, accusing the Kenya Kwanza administration of failing to give women adequate representation.He cited the ongoing debate over the two-thirds gender principle and said the treatment of women leaders discouraged others from seeking elective positions.“The oppression directed at women like Kawira prevents other women from even trying to enter politics,” Sifuna said, referring to former Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza.He urged residents to stand with Mwangaza, portraying her as a symbol of the struggle for women’s political participation.Sifuna also renewed his attacks on the President’s leadership style, saying Kenyans should distinguish between respect for the presidency as an institution and their assessment of Ruto as an individual.“Our Constitution states that the office of a president is a symbol of national unity,” he said, before launching a personal attack on the President.Sifuna said the opposition would not be intimidated by the President and accused his administration of using force to demand respect.“William Ruto thinks respect comes by force; that is impossible. We are a different generation—if you respect us, we respect you,” he said.The Nairobi Senator further claimed that the opposition’s grassroots campaign was gaining momentum across the country, saying the political alliance was targeting regions previously considered supportive of Ruto.He challenged residents of Meru to reject the argument that Ruto’s administration would automatically enjoy support because Deputy President Kithure Kindiki comes from the region.
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 29 – The parents of late KCB executive Rosemary Chemutai Koech have explained why they proceeded to bury their daughter at night, despite a court order seeking to stop her interment at their family home in Chepseon, Kericho County. Speaking during a memorial service for Rosemary, her mother, Beatrice Koech, said the family was determined to give their daughter the dignity they believed she deserved and provide a place where her four children could easily visit and mourn her. The burial on Friday night came hours after the Milimani Commercial Magistrate’s Court issued interim orders stopping the interment without the involvement and consent of Rosemary’s husband, Kevin Migwe Kimwatu. The dispute had centred on where the 40-year-old KCB Bank Head of Data Protection should be buried, with her husband seeking to have her laid to rest at his ancestral home in Matasia, Ngong, Kajiado County, while her parents wanted her buried at their home in Chepseon. But speaking during the memorial, Beatrice said the family had chosen to lay Rosemary to rest on their land because they believed it offered her children a place of comfort and connection with their mother. “We are very excited that we have managed to give Chemu the dignity that she deserved and lead her to rest where she will continue to rest happily and where she will be cared and loved together with her children...
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 29 – The late KCB Bank executive Rosemary Chemutai Koech-Kimwatu was buried at her parents’ home in Chepseon, Kericho County, on Friday night despite a court order issued hours earlier stopping her interment without the involvement and consent of her husband, Kevin Migwe Kimwatu.The dispute over her final resting place shifted to the courts, with the parties expected back before Milimani Commercial Magistrate’s Court on Monday, August 31 despite her interment.The burial was carried out after the family proceeded with the funeral arrangements, with reports indicating that the court order had not been served on them before the interment.The development came only hours after Senior Principal Magistrate Agnes Mwangi certified Kimwatu’s application as urgent and issued interim orders restraining Rosemary’s family, KCB Bank and other parties from removing her remains from Lee Funeral Home or proceeding with her burial without his involvement.The court had specifically barred the respondents, their relatives, agents and employees from interring or burying Rosemary without the involvement and consent of her husband pending the inter partes hearing.The orders followed an application filed by Kimwatu after he learnt that his wife’s family had planned to bury her at her parents’ home in Chepseon rather than at his ancestral home in Matasia, Ngong, Kajiado County.Kimwatu, who says he married Rosemary at St Austin’s Catholic Church in Nairobi in August 2013, argues that their 13-year marriage and the fact that they had four children gave him a right to participate in decisions concerning her final rites.He accuses Rosemary’s parents, Paul and Beatrice Koech, and her sister, Judy Koech-Oyamo, of excluding him from funeral committees and preparations following her death on August 21.The dispute escalated after Kimwatu visited Lee Funeral Home on August 26 to follow up on the burial arrangements and was shown a letter from KCB dated August 25.According to court documents, the bank’s employment records listed Rosemary’s sister, Judy Koech-Oyamo, and her eldest son, Charles Migwe Kimwatu, as her next of kin.The letter authorised the two to liaise with the funeral home over the release, collection and burial arrangements for Rosemary’s remains.The revelation became a key point of contention, with Kimwatu arguing that an employer’s internal next-of-kin records could not override his rights as a surviving spouse.His lawyers have accused KCB of involving itself in a private family dispute, arguing that employment records identifying a next of kin do not give an employer authority to determine where or how an employee’s remains should be buried.The bank’s letter, however, was expressly framed around funeral and mortuary arrangements, rather than the deceased’s estate or succession matters.Kimwatu has told the court that although his marriage to Rosemary had experienced difficulties, including a period of separation lasting about four months, the relationship remained legally intact. He maintains that they had reconciled and that she was planning to return home before her death.The family’s account, as reflected in the case documents and reports surrounding the dispute, points to deep domestic and financial difficulties during the period preceding Rosemary’s death.The contention is the question of where Rosemary should be laid to rest and who has the authority to make that decision.Her biological family had planned to bury her at the family home in Chepseon, Kericho County, where funeral arrangements had been announced before the court intervention.Kimwatu, on the other hand, wants her buried at his ancestral home in Matasia, Ngong, in Kajiado County.The court has not yet made a final determination on who has the ultimate right to decide Rosemary’s burial arrangements. The orders issued on Friday were interim measures intended to preserve the situation pending the hearing of the application.Rosemary was serving as KCB Bank Group’s Head of Data Protection within the Risk Division at the time of her death.She joined KCB as a Data Protection Officer in June 2022 and was promoted to Head of Data Protection in June 2023, having previously worked in legal, technology, regulatory and financial-services roles.Her death on August 21 triggered an outpouring of grief among relatives, colleagues and friends, with funeral arrangements initially proceeding without any public indication of the dispute that would later emerge.The conflict only became public after Kimwatu moved to court, saying he had been shut out of the preparations and had only discovered the identity of the people recognised by KCB as next of kin when he followed up at the mortuary.
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 29- Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat has led a fundraising drive at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil, Nakuru County, aimed at supporting the reconstruction of the school following the deadly dormitory fire that claimed the lives of 16 students. Lagat, who arrived at the academy on Saturday for the fundraising event, is seeking to rally support for the rebuilding of the institution, which serves a significant number of children from police families. The fundraising comes three months after the May 28, 2026 tragedy in which a fire swept through a dormitory at the school shortly after midnight, killing 16 girls and injuring scores of others. The fire affected a dormitory housing about 220 students, with reports indicating that some students were forced to jump from windows as they attempted to escape the flames. At least 79 students were injured in the incident. The tragedy triggered a major national debate on safety in boarding schools, particularly concerns over overcrowding, emergency exits and preparedness for fires. Investigations also raised questions about the circumstances surrounding the blaze, with authorities examining CCTV footage and interviewing students, teachers and other witnesses. The Education Ministry subsequently said that one of the dormitory’s exit doors had been locked, contrary to prescribed safety requirements. The school...
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 29 – Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has pointed to ongoing road works in Homa Bay as evidence of the Government’s investment in infrastructure in the region, weeks after the condition of roads in Suba North became a major political talking point. Mbadi said the road at the recently popularised “Yemen” junction was now taking shape, following widespread public attention to its poor condition during the Linda Mwananchi movement’s tour of Homa Bay earlier this month. “The recently trended ‘Yemen’ junction coming up nicely,” Mbadi said in a post highlighting the ongoing works. The road became a subject of national debate on August 16 when Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and the Linda Mwananchi caravan were forced to use dusty alternative routes during their tour of Homa Bay after sections of the main roads were blocked. Images and videos of the convoy navigating the rough roads subsequently circulated widely online, prompting the “Homa Bay looks like Yemen” tag and a political debate over the state of infrastructure in the county. The issue quickly evolved into a political contest, with Sifuna using the state of the roads to criticise the Government over what he described as years of neglect, while local leaders defended the region and demanded faster development. Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo rejected attempts to dismiss the roads used by the Linda Mwananch...
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya Aug 29 – The Ministry of Health has announced a coordinated preparedness plan to mitigate health risks linked to anticipated heavy rains, flooding and displacement during the 2026/2027 El Niño season.Public Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni said the Health Sector El Niño Contingency Plan brings together national and county governments, emergency agencies, humanitarian organisations and development partners to anticipate, prevent, detect and respond rapidly to flood-related health emergencies.“The Health Sector El Niño Contingency Plan provides a common framework” for coordinated preparedness and response, Muthoni said.The Ministry is particularly concerned about water- and food-borne diseases, including typhoid, cholera, dysentery, hepatitis A and other diarrhoeal illnesses, which can rise when flooding contaminates water sources and sanitation systems.Muthoni said the Ministry is working with county governments and partners including the Kenya Red Cross Society, National Disaster Operations Centre, National Disaster Management Unit, KEMSA, KEMRI, WHO, UNICEF and other health-sector agencies.Through the National Health Sector El Niño Task Force and emergency operations structures, the partners will support joint planning, rapid assessments, emergency medical services, referral and evacuation, community outreach, risk communication and relief support.The preparedness measures include strengthening disease surveillance and early-warning systems, with county teams supported to investigate alerts and deploy rapid-response teams.The Ministry is also enhancing laboratory capacity and sample-referral networks, while ensuring availability of reagents and rapid diagnostic tests for typhoid, cholera and other priority diseases.Essential medicines, laboratory supplies, infection-prevention materials, nutrition commodities and emergency kits are being quantified, procured, stockpiled and pre-positioned at regional, county and facility levels.The plan also prioritises safe water, sanitation and hygiene through water-quality surveillance, household water-treatment supplies, chlorination and disinfection of contaminated sources, as well as mobile water-treatment units and sanitation facilities.Counties are being supported to strengthen contingency plans, referral networks, ambulance and evacuation arrangements, temporary and mobile clinics, backup power and continuity of essential services.Community Health Promoters and Primary Care Networks will also disseminate early-warning messages, promote household water treatment and food hygiene, identify danger signs and link affected households to care.Muthoni urged people in flood-prone areas to boil or appropriately treat drinking water and store it in clean, covered containers.She also called for regular handwashing with soap and safe water, particularly after using the toilet and before preparing or eating food.The Ministry advised the public to cook food thoroughly, eat it while hot, wash fruits and vegetables with safe water and avoid food exposed to floodwater.Members of the public have also been urged to seek early medical attention for persistent fever, severe headache, abdominal pain, vomiting, profuse watery diarrhoea, blood in stool, unusual weakness or signs of dehydration.The Ministry cautioned against self-medicating with antibiotics and urged the public to follow evacuation and safety instructions while avoiding walking or driving through floodwater.Muthoni said the Ministry would continue monitoring meteorological and epidemiological information, updating risk assessments and supporting counties and partners as the situation evolves.
Read briefing Sudan’s military-led government has lifted a curfew and state of emergency in Khartoum imposed more than two years ago, state media says.The authorities are taking this step 18 months after the army seized back control of the capital from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which it has been fighting in a civil war now in its fourth year.But clashes continue in the south and west, with mounting evidence that the war is spilling across Sudan’s borders.More than two million of the roughly five million people who fled Khartoum after war erupted in April 2023 have returned to the city since fighting there ended in March 2025, according to the International Organization for Migration.The government has reopened the city’s main airport for some flights and is encouraging businesses and embassies to come back.Many have found widespread damage with many buildings looted. And they have to cope with constant power blackouts, due to alleged RSF drone attacks on electricity infrastructure and a lack of government funds to carry out repairs.“The targeting of the electricity sector in particular was very significant,” a spokesperson for the Khartoum state government, Altayeb Saadeldin, told the Reuters news agency, listing looting of copper wires and fuel and other components, as well as drone attacks, as reasons for the outages.An RSF source responded that the allegations were “incorrect and army propaganda”.Despite lifting the state of emergency, the authorities remain wary of RSF infiltration. The Sudan News Agency said security patrols would continue operating across the state and locals traveling at night would need to carry identification documents.Reports compiled by BBC Monitoring say the army continues to carry out security sweeps across greater Khartoum, targeting alleged RSF sleeper cells, undocumented foreigners and criminals involved in illegal activities.In the meantime, there is growing concern that the war is drawing in neighbouring countries.Chad is accusing the military of carrying out an air strike that hit a military convoy in Ennedi-Est province, about 100km (62 miles) inside Chadian territory, on 20 August. It has reportedly put its forces along the border on maximum alert.Sudan has rejected the charge, saying it is surprised that its army was blamed without an independent investigation.In a statement, the foreign ministry said it “affirms that the Sudanese army fulfils its constitutional duty to defend Sudan’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, and to confront the threats facing the country, while remaining committed to respecting the sovereignty of neighbouring states and refraining from targeting their territories”.Sudan accuses Chad of permitting the passage of RSF military supplies delivered by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) through its airports and border crossings.The UAE and Chad deny the allegations despite similar findings by UN experts and investigative reports by international media.The attack on the Chadian convoy prompted the US Senior Adviser for Arab and African Affairs, Massad Boulos to express “deep concern” about the risk of Sudan’s war threatening regional peace and stability.Boulos has been urging the parties to immediately accept a humanitarian truce. He has grown increasingly frustrated with the Sudanese military, which refuses to engage in a peace process unless the RSF disarms and withdraws from the territory it has occupied.“The United States condemns the SAF’s recent air strikes inside Chad,” Boulos wrote in a post on X. “There is no military solution to this conflict – and absolutely no justification for expanding the violence beyond Sudan’s borders.“External financial and military support to the warring parties must stop,” he added.This month the US envoy presented a draft resolution to the UN Security Council that would extend a 2005 weapons embargo on Darfur – the stronghold of the RSF – across the entire country and include a ban on attack drones, which are increasingly used by both sides.Sudan’s government and army have rejected the proposal. According to local media reports officials argue that this unfairly equates the recognised national military with a paramilitary force and restricts its ability to defend citizens against an insurgency.
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya Aug 28 – Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has given the National Police Service Commission (NPSC), Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) seven days to disclose details of recruitments conducted over the past five years.In a statement issued on Friday, Kalonzo demanded that the three institutions reveal who they have recruited, how many people have been hired, the criteria used and the regions from which the recruits were drawn.Kalonzo said the demand follows allegations of political interference in recruitment, including claims that TSC recruitment letters were allegedly being issued from State House.He cited recent remarks by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula and Murang’a Woman Representative Betty Maina, arguing that the allegations should not be dismissed as political rhetoric.“When the Speaker of the National Assembly says something like this in public, it stops being gossip. It becomes a matter that this country must get to the bottom of,” Kalonzo said.He alleged that recruitment into public institutions had increasingly been influenced by political connections and voting patterns rather than merit and regional fairness.Kalonzo invoked Article 232 of the Constitution, which sets out values and principles of public service, including professional ethics, efficient use of resources, merit and fair competition in appointments and promotions, and representation of Kenya’s diverse communities.“These institutions belong to Kenyans. They are not a basket of favours for Ruto’s regime to dish out to friends and reward loyalty,” he said.The Wiper leader said his party’s MPs and lawyers had been directed to write to the three institutions within 48 hours seeking the recruitment information under Kenya’s access-to-information framework.He said the seven-day period would begin once the letters are received by the respective institutions.Kalonzo warned that failure to provide the information would prompt legal action, with his team seeking court orders compelling the institutions to disclose the requested records.“If they choose silence instead of answers, we will go to court and ask a judge to compel them to disclose what they are hiding,” he said.He maintained that the move was aimed at promoting accountability and transparency in public recruitment.“Kenyans will get the truth about who is being hired into their institutions, and why, with or without State House’s cooperation,” Kalonzo said.
Read briefing NAIROBI, August 28 – Former National Assembly Speaker and Democratic Party leader Justin Muturi has warned that Parliament risks undermining the 2027 General Election by failing to conclude pending amendments to electoral laws.Muturi said unresolved questions surrounding electoral technology, procurement and intellectual-property rights could erode public confidence in the electoral process if they are not settled before preparations for the next election enter their final stages.He accused Parliament of failing to learn from the unrest that followed the 2023 protests, saying the deaths recorded during that period should compel State institutions to address weaknesses exposed in the electoral framework.“In 2023, Kenyans took to the streets demanding, among other things, accountability and clarity on issues surrounding electoral technology and intellectual-property rights, and nearly 100 lives were lost in the ensuing unrest,” Muturi said.He said the loss of lives should not be treated as a statistic and warned that allowing similar legal uncertainties to persist ahead of the 2027 election could trigger a more serious crisis.He highlighted the Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which he said had been passed by the Senate and transmitted to the National Assembly but remains pending as the country moves closer to the next General Election.“This is not routine parliamentary procrastination; in my considered view, it amounts to electoral sabotage,” Muturi said.He singled out National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula and MPs, whom he urged to ensure the pending amendments are tabled, debated and concluded without further delay.Muturi argued that clarity in the law was critical to the preparedness of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), particularly on procurement and the acquisition and use of electoral technology.He warned that unresolved legal questions could complicate procurement decisions and expose the electoral body to disputes at a time when it should be concentrating on preparations for the 2027 poll.“Questions relating to electoral technology, procurement and intellectual-property rights must be settled before contracts are awarded and before the country enters the final stages of election preparation,” he said.The former Speaker said uncertainty over the legal framework could also damage public confidence in the IEBC and the credibility of the election.He warned political leaders against assuming that failure to act would have consequences only within Parliament, saying an electoral crisis could carry significant human and economic costs.“Let nobody say they were not warned,” Muturi said, arguing that once confidence in an election collapses, restoring public trust and peace becomes considerably harder.His remarks come as political parties and other stakeholders begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 General Election, increasing pressure on Parliament and electoral institutions to address outstanding legal and administrative questions.Muturi called on lawmakers to treat electoral reforms as an urgent national responsibility rather than a routine legislative matter.He said the country could not afford to wait for another crisis before addressing weaknesses that had already been identified.“We owe it to those Kenyans who lost their lives to ensure that their sacrifice was not in vain,” he said.Muturi further warned that Parliament could face accountability if its failure to act contributed to an electoral crisis in 2027.“If the National Assembly knowingly fails to discharge its responsibility and the electoral process subsequently descends into a crisis, those responsible for the failure to act must be held accountable,” he said.He urged Parliament to move with urgency, saying the credibility of the next election depended not only on the conduct of the IEBC but also on whether the legal framework governing the poll was clear and settled in good time.“Fix the law. Protect the IEBC. Protect the election. Protect the lives of Kenyans. Act now,” Muturi said.
Read briefing Tanzania’s Parliament has unanimously approved Deogratius John Ndejembi as the country’s new Vice President, clearing a key constitutional hurdle in the transition triggered by the resignation of Emmanuel Nchimbi.All 324 lawmakers who took part in Friday’s vote backed Ndejembi’s nomination, with no votes against and no spoilt ballots recorded.President Samia Suluhu Hassan nominated Ndejembi to fill the position after Nchimbi resigned on August 25, 2026. Ndejembi, a Member of Parliament for Chamwino, had been serving in the Government as Energy Minister.The parliamentary approval follows his endorsement by the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), which selected him as its preferred candidate to succeed Nchimbi after an emergency meeting of the party’s leadership.Nchimbi’s exit from the Vice Presidency has triggered a swift leadership transition in Tanzania.He announced his resignation earlier this week and said he would retire from active politics and public service. His resignation was initially expected to take effect on September 4, 2026.However, the parliamentary approval process also brought clarification over the date on which Nchimbi ceased to hold the office.Tanzania’s Attorney-General Hamza Johari told Parliament that Nchimbi ceased to be Vice President on August 26 after he was expelled from CCM. Johari cited constitutional provisions requiring the Vice President to be a member of a political party and nominated by that party.The development came after CCM expelled Nchimbi from the party shortly after his resignation. The ruling party cited alleged violations of its ethics, rules and principles, although the specific conduct behind the disciplinary action was not publicly detailed.Ndejembi’s appointment elevates a senior CCM politician who has served in government and Parliament.He has represented Chamwino Constituency in Parliament and held ministerial responsibilities in President Samia’s administration. Recent reporting identified him as Energy Minister when CCM nominated him to succeed Nchimbi.His nomination was endorsed unanimously by CCM’s National Executive Committee before being forwarded through the constitutional process for parliamentary approval.The Vice President is Tanzania’s second-highest political office and plays a central role in the executive. Under Tanzania’s constitutional framework, the Vice President also has a key role in the presidential succession process.Ndejembi’s elevation comes at a significant moment for Tanzania’s ruling CCM, following Nchimbi’s unexpected departure less than a year after he took office.Nchimbi had served as Vice President since November 2025. His resignation has generated debate over internal political dynamics within CCM and his relationship with President Samia Suluhu Hassan.The outgoing Vice President had publicly spoken about the need for a new constitution, remarks that attracted criticism from some members of the ruling party. However, the Government has not publicly provided a detailed explanation for his resignation.His subsequent expulsion from CCM, followed by the rapid nomination and parliamentary approval of Ndejembi, has made the transition one of the most significant political developments in Tanzania in recent days.With Parliament having unanimously approved his nomination, Ndejembi has cleared the parliamentary stage of the process to become Tanzania’s next Vice President.The transition follows President Samia’s nomination of Ndejembi after Nchimbi’s departure and comes as the Government seeks to maintain continuity at the highest levels of the executive.Ndejembi now takes on the responsibility of serving alongside President Samia as Tanzania navigates a period of heightened political attention following the abrupt change in the country’s second-highest office.
Read briefing NAIROBI, August 28, 2026 -The court has temporarily halted the burial of KCB executive Rosemary Chemutai Kimwatu following a dispute between her husband and members of her family over who should oversee her final send-off.The order was issued after her husband, Kevin Migwe Kimwatu, moved to the Milimani Chief Magistrate’s Court seeking to stop what he described as burial arrangements being made without his involvement.In court papers filed on August 26, Kimwatu says he was sidelined from the arrangements despite being the deceased’s husband and father of their four children.He wants the court to declare him entitled to make decisions concerning his wife’s burial and final rites and has asked that her remains be buried at his ancestral home in Matasia, within Ngong Sub-County, Kajiado County.The court action has temporarily disrupted funeral plans, with the family confirming in a message to relatives and friends that a court order had been issued stopping the funeral and burial arrangements pending the hearing and determination of the case.“This is certainly not the situation any family would wish to find itself in while grieving the loss of a loved one,” the family said.The family said its wish was for Ms Chemutai to be buried peacefully and with dignity, while ensuring that her husband and children were given an opportunity to mourn and participate in her final farewell.Ms Chemutai, who died on August 21, 2026, was an employee of KCB Bank Kenya Limited, where she served as Head of Data Protection within the Risk Division.Her remains are being preserved at Lee Funeral Services.According to the plaint, Kimwatu and Ms Chemutai were married on August 24, 2013, at St Austin’s Catholic Church in Nairobi and had four children.Kimwatu says that although the couple had separated for about four months before her death, they had reconciled and that his wife had expressed a desire to return to their matrimonial home before she died.He claims that members of her family subsequently indicated that she would be buried at their home in Kericho County, without involving him in the arrangements.The husband further alleges that on August 26, he was informed by the funeral home that his wife’s body would only be released to her sister, Judy Koech-Oyamo.He attributes the decision to a letter allegedly issued by KCB on August 25, which, according to his court papers, instructed the funeral home on the release and burial arrangements and identified Ms Koech-Oyamo and his son, Charles Migwe Kimwatu, as next of kin.Kimwatu has accused the bank of interfering in a private family matter and wants the court to declare the letter unlawful and without legal effect.His lawyers, Ramadhan Mukira & Company Advocates, also wrote to KCB on August 26 demanding that the bank withdraw the instructions and refrain from further involvement in the funeral arrangements.The lawyers argue that an employer has no authority under employment or succession law to direct a funeral home on the handling or burial of an employee’s remains.They have also raised concerns over the alleged disclosure of personal information belonging to family members, including names, identification numbers, telephone numbers, email addresses and postal addresses, in the letter to the funeral home.The lawyers contend that the disclosure breached constitutional privacy protections and provisions of the Data Protection Act.The bank, funeral home and the deceased’s relatives named as defendants in the suit will have an opportunity to respond to the allegations.Kimwatu has asked the court to direct the funeral home to release his wife’s remains to him and to order police security during the burial.He has also asked the court to declare that the remains be interred at his ancestral home in Matasia.The dispute has placed the family’s funeral plans on hold as the court considers competing claims over the arrangements.In their message to relatives and friends, the family said they would refrain from commenting on the merits of the case now that the matter was before the court.“We remain hopeful that this process will provide clarity and allow a way forward that respects Rosemary Chemutai’s memory, her family and, most importantly, the wellbeing of her children,” the family said.They appealed for prayers for both families and, in particular, for the four children as the family navigates the dispute following their mother’s death.The case is before the Chief Magistrate’s Court at Milimani, with the husband seeking substantive orders on the handling of the remains and the final burial arrangements.
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 28 — Uganda has been declared free of Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus after completing forty-two consecutive days without a new confirmed case, marking the end of an outbreak that recorded twenty confirmed cases, eighteen recoveries and two deaths.The World Health Organization (WHO) and Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) welcomed the milestone on Thursday, saying the completion of the 42-day monitoring period provides an additional safeguard that no chains of transmission linked to the country’s last case have been missed.The period is equivalent to twice the upper limit of the Ebola incubation period and is the internationally established benchmark for determining that transmission linked to an outbreak has ended.Uganda’s last patient, an imported case, was discharged from care on July 16. The country had earlier announced the interruption of local transmission on July 28 after completing 42 days without a locally acquired case.WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus hailed Uganda’s response, saying decisive action, surveillance and preparedness had helped contain the outbreak before it spread more widely.“Uganda has demonstrated that with decisive action, Ebola outbreaks can be brought under control quickly,” Tedros said.The outbreak was declared on May 15, 2026, after Ebola caused by the Bundibugyo virus was detected in Uganda.According to WHO, Uganda recorded twenty confirmed cases, including fifteen imported cases from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and five locally acquired infections among contacts and health workers linked to imported cases.Eighteen patients recovered while two died, with more than 800 contacts identified and monitored.The successful containment was attributed to early case detection and confirmation, contact tracing, isolation and clinical care, infection prevention measures, community engagement and strengthened surveillance at health facilities and points of entry.Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya described the milestone as an important lesson for the continent, while warning that Uganda’s success must be protected as Ebola transmission continues in neighbouring DRC.“Uganda has shown that Ebola can be stopped when leadership acts decisively, communities are trusted and public health systems reach people quickly,” Kaseya said.The end of Uganda’s outbreak does not mark the end of the regional Ebola threat.The DRC continues to experience an active outbreak of Bundibugyo virus disease, with sustained transmission reported in northeastern parts of the country. WHO has described the DRC outbreak as requiring continued international coordination and cooperation.The two countries share close social and economic ties, including frequent cross-border movement and trade, leaving Uganda and other neighbouring countries vulnerable to imported infections.WHO has therefore called for continued surveillance and testing capacity, rapid investigation of alerts, strong infection-prevention measures and sustained community engagement.The agency has also advised against broad travel or trade restrictions linked to the Ebola outbreak, saying countries should maintain international movement while implementing proportionate public-health measures that support early detection and preparedness.WHO and Africa CDC said Uganda’s response demonstrated the value of maintaining outbreak preparedness before an emergency occurs.The response included strengthened surveillance at health facilities and points of entry, rapid investigation of suspected cases and monitoring of people who had been exposed to confirmed infections.WHO Regional Director for Africa Mohamed Janabi said ending an outbreak was an important milestone, but the longer-term achievement was strengthening the country’s capacity to respond to future health threats.The organisations said they will continue supporting Uganda and the DRC under a joint continental preparedness and response plan.For Uganda, the declaration provides relief after a relatively contained outbreak. For the region, however, the continuing transmission in the DRC means surveillance and cross-border preparedness remain critical.The end of transmission in Uganda therefore represents both a public-health victory and a reminder of the importance of rapid detection, strong health systems and coordinated regional action.
Read briefing Convicted Bosnian Serb war criminal Ratko Mladić has died in a UN prison at The Hague aged 84.He was jailed for life in 2017 for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity during the wars in the former Yugoslaviain 1992-95.After the Bosnian war, he went on the run for 16 years until he was finally tracked down in rural Serbia in 2011 and put on trialin the Dutch city.The sentence for the man known as the “Butcher of Bosnia” was upheld on appeal by the UN court in 2021. He was being given palliative care in the hospital of the UN detention facility, where he died.In a statement confirming the death on Thursday, the UN Court said Dutch authorities have begun an investigation.It added that the court’s top judge”has ordered a full inquiry into the circumstances” of Mladić’s death.In May, the court rejected a bid for his release from jail as he was nearing the end of his life.The judge agreed his situation was “dire” but ruled that he was receiving “comprehensive and compassionate treatment” in prison.Mladić’s lawyers said at the time that he had already been bedbound or in a wheelchair for a long time and later had suffered a suspected stroke that left him almost unable to speak.Mladić – who never recognised the UN court – had been held at The Hague detention facility since 2011.He commanded Bosnian Serb forces in the 1990s against the Bosnian Croat and Bosniak (Bosnian Muslim) armies.During the war his troops committed what became known as “ethnic cleansing” in Bosnia-Herzegovina in a bid to expel the non-Serbian population by force. They besieged the main city of Sarajevo with the deaths of more than 10,000 people, and carried out the massacre of 8,000 men and boys at Srebrenica.Hasan Hasanović , a Srebrenica survivor who lost his twin brother and father in the massacre, told the BBC World Service’s Newshour programme that Mladić’s death “does not bring closure because the people who were killed in Srebrenica cannot come back”.“His death is just a biological necessity, and it doesn’t bring to an end the political project and military project that created that legacy of genocide. And we now live with the consequences of a divided country, genocide denial,” said Hasanović, who now works at the Srebrenica memorial centre.However, Bosnian Serb separatist leader Milorad Dodik told Reuters news agency that Mladić “was respected by Serbian people. As a commander he stood to defend Serbs.”“I genuinely believe he protected the Serbian people, because after all, that was his duty,” a man called Milan was quoted as saying by Reuters.Another man, Vasilije, said: “It’s a massive shame, it really is. Personally, I think it’s a total injustice that he was even thrown in The Hague.”
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 27 — Kenya is recording a decline in skilled birth attendance and family planning uptake, raising concerns over persistent gaps in access to maternal and newborn healthcare.Data presented to editors in Nairobi on Thursday showed that deliveries conducted by skilled birth attendants fell from 69.77 per cent between April and June 2025 to 65.47 per cent between January and March 2026.The number of women using family planning services also declined over the same period, highlighting challenges in access to reproductive health services.Polycarp Oyoo, Programs Advisor for Maternal and Newborn Health at the International Centre for Reproductive Health Kenya (ICRHK), said the figures should prompt closer scrutiny of why women are not consistently accessing antenatal and delivery services.“Every day we lose about 15 mothers,” Oyoo said, adding that dozens of newborn deaths and stillbirths are also recorded daily.He urged journalists and policymakers to investigate whether weaknesses within the health system are contributing to preventable maternal and newborn deaths.The data presented during the Wanahabari Editors’ Roundtable on Strengthening Media Engagement for Maternal, Newborn, Child Health and Nutrition (MNCH+N) showed that delays remain a major contributor to maternal and newborn deaths.According to the presentation, 30 per cent of maternal and newborn deaths are associated with delays in deciding to seek care, while 25 per cent are linked to delays in reaching a health facility.A further 45 per cent occur after patients reach health facilities but fail to receive timely and quality care.Ministry of Health data cited during the meeting also showed that only 37 per cent of facilities providing delivery services meet basic Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care standards.The presentation further indicated shortages of critical medicines and commodities, with 48 per cent of facilities reporting a lack of magnesium sulphate, 47 per cent lacking benzyl penicillin and 40 per cent reporting shortages of oxytocin.Postpartum haemorrhage, or excessive bleeding after childbirth, was identified as the leading reported maternal complication between 2020 and 2025.Oyoo said maternal health challenges begin before pregnancy and childbirth, making access to family planning services an important component of reducing unintended and high-risk pregnancies.Data presented at the meeting showed that the number of family planning users among women of reproductive age declined from 1,519,066 in January-March 2025 to 1,385,575 in January-March 2026.The presentation showed that women aged above 25 accounted for most users, while adolescents and younger women recorded lower uptake.Oyoo said the decline among younger women required investigation to determine whether the challenge was linked to availability of contraceptives, information, access to services or other factors.“Why are adolescents, why is the younger population not getting this?” he asked.The presentation further showed that Kenya recorded 480 maternal deaths, 811 neonatal deaths and 3,590 perinatal deaths during the six months preceding the meeting, based on data accessed through the Ministry of Health’s health information systems.Oyoo said journalists could use the Ministry of Health’s EWENE dashboard to track deaths at county and facility level and investigate the circumstances surrounding individual cases.He cautioned against focusing solely on national figures, urging newsrooms to identify facilities and counties where particular problems may be concentrated.Nakuru, Kakamega and Nairobi were among counties recording high numbers of deaths in the six-month data reviewed.However, Oyoo said counties reporting few or no maternal deaths should also be investigated to determine whether the figures reflect better health outcomes or possible gaps in reporting.The data was presented as Kenya implements the Every Woman Every Newborn Everywhere (EWENE) Acceleration Plan 2026-2028, launched by the government in May.The Ministry of Health says the plan seeks to accelerate efforts to reduce preventable maternal and newborn deaths, particularly in counties with high mortality burdens.The plan targets a reduction in Kenya’s maternal mortality ratio from 355 deaths per 100,000 live births to 140 or fewer by 2028.It also targets a reduction in neonatal mortality from 21 to 12 or fewer deaths per 1,000 live births, while seeking to increase skilled birth attendance to 100 per cent and eliminate oxytocin stockouts.The government has also introduced a six-month Maternal and Newborn Health Rapid Results Initiative under EWENE to accelerate implementation and improve outcomes.Oyoo challenged journalists to track whether the government’s interventions are achieving their targets.He called for scrutiny of maternal and newborn health budgets, staffing, availability of essential commodities and the quality of care provided in health facilities.
Read briefing Uganda’s military chief, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has announced that he will run for president in 2031, positioning himself as a potential successor to his father, long-serving President Yoweri Museveni.Kainerugaba, 52, made the declaration in a series of posts on X, saying he intends to contest for “the highest office in the land” in the 2031 elections.“With my great father, Mzee’s, support I will get 90% in the elections in 2031,” Kainerugaba said, referring to his 81-year-old father.The announcement renews speculation over Uganda’s political succession and Kainerugaba’s long-standing ambitions to eventually take over from Museveni, who has ruled the country since 1986.Kainerugaba leads the Patriotic League of Uganda, a political pressure group, and has previously expressed presidential ambitions. He had indicated that he would contest the 2026 election but ultimately withdrew from the race.Museveni’s own plans beyond the 2026 election remain unclear. A government spokesperson told Reuters that Museveni and the ruling National Resistance Movement would make a decision on his political future when the time comes.Kainerugaba’s latest declaration nevertheless puts the question of succession firmly back into Uganda’s political debate.The military chief has become a prominent and controversial figure in Ugandan politics, particularly because of his outspoken social media presence and comments targeting opposition figures.He played a major role in securing his father’s re-election in the January 2026 elections, according to Reuters, including through actions against opposition forces and an internet shutdown.Kainerugaba has previously attracted international attention over his social media posts, including threats directed at leading opposition figure Bobi Wine.Uganda’s opposition remains under significant pressure. Bobi Wine left the country earlier this year, saying he feared for his safety, while veteran opposition politician Kizza Besigye has been in detention since 2024 and faces treason charges.Critics have accused Museveni’s government of human rights abuses, including arbitrary detention and torture, allegations the government has denied.Kainerugaba’s declaration that he will seek the presidency in 2031 is therefore likely to intensify debate over whether Uganda is heading towards a political transition within the Museveni family and the role the military chief could play in the country’s future.For now, Museveni’s position remains unchanged, with the government yet to confirm whether he intends to seek another term.
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya Aug 27 – The National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) has arrested three suspects and seized hundreds of counterfeit alcoholic beverages during a multi-agency crackdown in Jericho, Makadara Sub-County, Nairobi.The operation was conducted on Thursday by officers from NACADA, the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) and the National Police Service.The team raided a suspected counterfeiting den where three people, including a woman allegedly found mixing and repackaging substandard alcohol, were arrested.NACADA said 315 assorted counterfeit alcoholic beverages were recovered during the operation, alongside fake KRA excise stamps, empty bottles and bottle tops believed to have been intended for refilling.Some of the confiscated products were found bearing Tanzanian excise duty stamps, raising concerns over possible cross-border counterfeiting and distribution.The three suspects were booked at Jogoo Road Police Station and are expected to be arraigned in court on Friday.The Jericho raid comes amid an intensified nationwide crackdown on counterfeit and illicit alcohol.NACADA Chief Executive Officer Dr Anthony Omerikwa said enforcement operations had been stepped up, particularly in Nairobi, which he said accounts for 55 per cent of the consumption of what the Authority described as life-threatening alcoholic drinks.Omerikwa said multi-agency teams would continue targeting individuals and businesses involved in the manufacture and distribution of illicit alcohol.He urged members of the public to help authorities identify suspected illegal operations by sharing information through NACADA’s official platforms or its free helpline 1192.“We cannot win this battle alone. We call upon Kenyans to be our eyes and ears and report any suspicious activities or outlets selling counterfeit alcohol,” he said.The Jericho operation came a day after another multi-agency raid in Eastleigh, Nairobi, where authorities seized 868 counterfeit and uncustomed alcoholic beverages and arrested two suspects.NACADA said the back-to-back operations demonstrate its continued efforts to disrupt the supply chain for counterfeit and illicit alcoholic products.The Authority warned manufacturers, distributors and retailers involved in illegal alcohol trade that they face prosecution.NACADA said further operations are planned in other high-risk areas as authorities step up enforcement against counterfeit and illicit alcohol.The Authority maintained that the crackdown is aimed at protecting communities from the health and social harms associated with illicit alcoholic products.
Read briefing 