Kenya

Authorities in Kenya have shut down the Ehsan Rehabilitation Centre in Kajiado after rescuing a 14-year-old boy and uncovering allegations of child abuse, physical assault, illegal detention, and other serious violations at the facility.

Starlink Kenya has paused new signups in Nairobi, Mombasa, and five additional Kenyan counties due to exceeding satellite capacity, redirecting users to a waitlist.

A senior journalist in Kenya escaped an attempted abduction following angry criticism of his newspaper by President William Ruto. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called for an investigation into the incident.

Human rights campaigners in Kenya are seeking a joint parliamentary committee to investigate alleged rights violations by security agencies, including extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, torture, abductions, and excessive use of force.

The Social Health Authority (SHA) in Kenya has introduced biometric fingerprint identification for registered child dependants aged 7-17 to strengthen beneficiary verification and reduce fraud in the public health insurance system.

Kenya's Capital Markets Authority aims to monitor over 20 blockchains using a blockchain tool to detect fraud, money laundering, and sanctions evasion under the country's new cryptocurrency law.

Heavy police deployments in Kenya and Tanzania have suppressed planned protests. The deployments were used to prevent demonstrations from occurring as scheduled.

Kenyan plainclothes police officers arrested several youths near the Office of the President in Nairobi during heightened security measures enforced for the Saba Saba commemorations.

Residents in Mombasa held a 15-minute orderly protest in the city's Central Business District after reaching an agreement with police.

The Committee to Protect Journalists called for an investigation into the attempted kidnapping of a senior journalist in Kenya following angry criticism of his newspaper by President William Ruto.

Martha Karua, leader of the People's Liberation Party, accused the Kenyan government of violating constitutional freedoms by blocking Saba Saba protests through security deployments and roadblocks. She emphasized the anniversary should be marked peacefully to honor Kenya's pro-democracy struggle.

Nairobi's Central Business District was sealed off with police checkpoints, shops closed, and major roads blocked on July 7 as Kenya observed Saba Saba Day under heavy security. The day is marked as the most charged protest date in Kenya.

Kenyan police have increased checkpoints in Nairobi ahead of planned Saba Saba protests. Activists plan to proceed with the demonstrations despite warnings that gatherings will be considered unlawful.

Kenya is facing challenges due to reduced U.S. aid, particularly in health funding. Purity Wambui's advanced TB diagnosis highlights the potential consequences of these funding cuts.

Aliko Dangote plans to invest in Tanzania's ports, power, and roads as part of his expansion strategy. He met with Tanzania’s president to discuss mutually beneficial sectors, with formal talks to finalize a deal. Dangote’s existing projects include an oil refinery in Nigeria and a planned second plant in Kenya.

The article argues that the U.S. debate over extending the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) is misplaced, as competitors like the EU and China are advancing deeper commercial ties with Africa. It highlights the need for the U.S. to shift from AGOA's one-way trade preferences to a broader strategy focused on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), reciprocal agreements, and long-term investment in infrastructure and critical minerals.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission in Kenya plans to recover Sh1.5 billion and pursue criminal prosecution after a Court of Appeal ruling declared compensation in the Ruaraka public land case illegal and void.

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has assured Kenyans that proceeds from government asset sales will not be used to fund recurrent expenditure, stating that the funds will be invested in infrastructure projects through the National Infrastructure Fund (NIF).

Kenya's new Parliamentary Pensions (Amendment) Act, assented to by President William Ruto, ensures female Members of Parliament receive the same pension, gratuity, and dependent coverage as their male counterparts. Widowers of female MPs will now be eligible for spousal pensions under the law.

The Kenyan government plans to desilt Kenyatta Dam in Kuresoi, Nakuru County, to enhance irrigation and support alternative economic activities for communities around the Mau Forest Complex.

A report claims the International Monetary Fund (IMF) prioritizes debt repayment and fiscal austerity over public service investment in Kenya, contradicting its stated focus on inclusive growth and social spending.

A Kenya Airways Boeing 787 Dreamliner flight bound for New York City was diverted due to a malfunctioning flight control system.

Women constitute 3% of construction workers in Kenya, and a nonprofit group is providing opportunities for them to enter and advance in the field.

A surge of anti-migrant unrest in South Africa has caused fear and displacement among foreigners, triggered by protests against illegal immigration and a disputed death. Ghana has accused South Africa of killing one of its citizens and demanded a full investigation.

Traffic resumed on the Thika Superhighway after police cleared barricades erected by suspected goons near the Pangani area, restoring normal movement along one of Nairobi's busiest roads.

A TikTok user in Garissa, Kenya, has been charged for allegedly inciting religious and ethnic hostility through a viral video. The individual appeared before the Garissa Law Courts and was released on a Sh500,000 bond with an alternative cash bail of Sh200,000.

Kenyan youth mobiliser Cecil Otieno Ouma died in a shooting after a government youth forum in Nairobi. Seven individuals, including two members of Principal Secretary Jacob Fikirini's security detail, are providing statements to investigators examining conflicting accounts of the incident.

The Kenyan government is set to receive over Sh200 billion on Friday from the sale of its 15% stake in Safaricom to South Africa's Vodacom, as announced by National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi.

Students at Utumishi Girls Academy have resumed learning after a dormitory fire killed 16 students. School management and government agencies have arranged temporary boarding while planning new dormitories.

Kenyan anti-narcotics detectives arrested a bus passenger carrying 300 grams of heroin valued at Sh1 million during a routine inspection on the Mombasa-Nairobi Highway. The incident occurred along the highway while the bus was heading to Nairobi.

Taiwan's Legislative Yuan passed the Virtual Asset Service Act, establishing its first comprehensive crypto regulatory framework with licensing requirements for service providers and a stablecoin structure. The law mandates approval from the Financial Supervisory Commission and central bank for crypto operations, imposes strict penalties for violations, and includes transition periods for existing firms.

Rising fuel costs in sub-Saharan Africa, driven by the Iran war, are slowing overall vehicle sales but boosting electric vehicle (EV) purchases. Chinese EVs are priced similarly to internal combustion engine alternatives, and high fuel costs in import-reliant markets like Kenya are making EVs more attractive for high-usage consumers and fleet operators. However, weak charging infrastructure, unreliable electricity supply, and high financing costs may limit widespread EV adoption.

Nairobi and Kigali signed three agreements to expand Rwanda’s access to petroleum imports through Mombasa, Kenya. The move aims to diversify fuel supply routes amid a continent-wide crisis caused by the Iran war and the Strait of Hormuz blockade. Nigeria’s Dangote Group plans to expand oil refining capacity in response to the energy challenges.

The World Bank approved a $750 million loan to Kenya to support economic investment and fund a $37 billion budget, part of which addresses Kenya’s $100 billion debt. The lender commended Kenya’s government for financial reforms and anti-corruption efforts but emphasized the need for continued fiscal discipline. The World Bank also announced a $1.25 billion partnership with Nigeria to boost economic growth.

Eight minors from Utumishi Girls Academy in Kenya have been charged with murder following a deadly school fire that killed 16 students. The case involves the death of a fellow student linked to the fire.

The High Court in Kenya upheld President William Ruto's reappointment of Cabinet Secretaries who were dismissed during the 2024 Cabinet shake-up, ruling their removal did not disqualify them for future appointments.

African governments in Kenya, Ghana, and Mali are prioritizing local processing of minerals before export, aiming to control their resources and industrialize independently. This shift reflects a broader strategy to retain value from raw materials within their countries.

Kenya's High Court ruled that President William Ruto's Cabinet does not comply with the constitutional two-thirds gender principle and has ordered him to correct the imbalance within 120 days.

Eight students from Utumishi Girls Academy are scheduled to appear before the Kibera Law Court for a mention before Justice Diana Kaveta. The case is linked to a tragedy involving the school.

Kenya's Cabinet has approved a new bilateral health framework with the United States to deepen cooperation in public health, focusing on strengthening disease surveillance.