Kenya - The African Mirror

Apr

2024

Kenya’s military chief among 10 people killed in helicopter crash

KENYA'S military chief, General Francis Ogolla, was among 10 people killed when their military helicopter crashed shortly after take-off, President William Ruto announced. The aircraft, which had been on a visit to troops deployed in northwest Kenya to combat endemic cattle rustling, came down just minutes after leaving Cheptulel Boys Secondary School in West Pokot County, Ruto said. Two soldiers survived the crash and were in hospital, he said, adding that an air investigation team had been sent to discover the cause. "Our motherland has lost one of her most valiant generals," Ruto told a news conference. "The demise of…

Apr

2024

By The African Mirror

Kenya recalls J&J children’s cough syrup over suspected toxicity

NEWS

KENYA'S drug regulator is recalling a batch of Johnson & Johnson children's cough syrup, it said a day after Nigeria recalled the same batch of medication under the Benylin Paediatric brand. Nigeria's health regulator said laboratory tests on the syrup showed a high level of diethylene glycol, which has been linked to the deaths of dozens of children in Gambia, Uzbekistan and Cameroon since 2022 in one of the world's worst waves of poisoning from oral medication. Kenya's Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) said in a statement it had commenced investigations and advised that sales of certain batches of the product be halted…

Apr

2024

By DUNCAN MIRIRI

Kenya proposes maritime treaty to defuse Ethiopia-Somalia tensions

NEWS

KENYA has proposed a regional maritime treaty to defuse tensions between Ethiopia and Somalia over a deal allowing Ethiopia to set up a naval base and giving it port access in Somalia's breakaway region of Somaliland, a top Kenyan official said. Landlocked Ethiopia agreed on January 1 to lease 20 km (12 miles) of coastline in Somaliland, a part of Somalia which claims independence and has had effective autonomy since 1991, offering possible recognition of Somaliland in exchange. That prompted a defiant response from Somalia and fuelled concern the deal could further destabilise the Horn of Africa region. The treaty Kenya is…

Apr

2024

By JOSEPH OGUTU

Kenya’s wildlife conservancies make old men rich, while making women and young people poorer

SPECIAL FEATURES: ANALYSIS

KENYA once had an exceptional abundance and diversity of wildlife. But as the country’s population boomed, wildlife lost space to people, buildings, roads and agriculture. Since 1948, Kenya’s population has surged by 780%, from 5.4 million people to 47.6 million people in 2019. This was accompanied by a 70% drop in wildlife numbers, between 1977 and 2013. This massive loss of wildlife and their habitats severely threatens Kenya’s lucrative tourism industry and the livelihoods of rural communities. Kenya earned about US$1.8 billion from tourism in 2022. It’s pivotal to the economy, contributing 10.4% to the national GDP and accounting for…

Apr

2024

By The African Mirror

Kenyan private sector activity slows in March, PMI shows

BUSINESS

KENYA'S private sector activity contracted slightly in March, hurt by cashflow problems at some businesses, a business survey showed. The Stanbic Bank Kenya Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) fell to 49.7 in March from 51.3 a month earlier. Readings above 50.0 signal growth, while those below point to a contraction. In February, it was the first time since August that the figure had gone above 50. "Output contracted modestly, which survey panellists attributed to lower new order intakes and cash flow problems," Stanbic Bank said in commentary accompanying the survey. "The decline in new orders signalled by the survey was only…

Apr

2024

By OSCAR GAKUO MWANGI

Kenya’s mission to Haiti: how the 1,000-strong force is preparing for planned intervention

SPECIAL FEATURES: ANALYSIS

KENYA has temporarily halted controversial plans to send a specially trained contingent of 1,000 police officers to Haiti, where armed gang violence recently took a turn for the worse. After a visit to Nairobi in early March where he signed terms for Kenya’s deployment, Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry was forced to resign as gangs took control of the country’s capital, Port-au-Prince. In the absence of a government in Haiti, plans to deploy Kenyan troops are on hold. Oscar Gakuo Mwangi, who studies radicalisation and counter-terrorism in Kenya, takes a look at Kenya’s preparedness to take on Haiti’s urban gangs.…

Mar

2024

By LOUIS DE KOKER

Kenya’s greylisting for weak action on money laundering and terrorism financing: what that means and what must happen next

SPECIAL FEATURES: ANALYSIS

KENYA and Namibia are the latest African countries to be placed on the Financial Action Task Force’s grey list over their weak measures against money laundering and terrorism financing. Being on the grey list is typically seen as an indictment of a country’s ability to identify and effectively redress financial crimes. It warns investors to be cautious in dealings with the country. Financial crimes researcher Louis de Koker, who has recently studied the economic consequences of greylisting, answers questions on the move. Why is Kenya on the grey list? In February 2024 Kenya was greylisted by the Financial Action Task…

Mar

2024

By The African Mirror

Kenya and Uganda resolve oil import row, Uganda says

BUSINESS

KENYA will allow landlocked Uganda's state oil firm to import petroleum products through its port of Mombasa, Uganda's energy ministry confirmed, to end a row between the two neighbours. Uganda has been seeking alternative ways of importing petroleum products, including through a Tanzanian port after its oil retailers for decades received their cargo through affiliated firms in Kenya. Solomon Muyita, spokesperson for Uganda's Ministry of Energy and Minerals, said the first shipment under the new system was expected in May. "Kenya has agreed to give us a licence, UNOC (Uganda National Oil Company) is now free to import through Mombasa,"…

Mar

2024

By CONSTANCE GIKONYO

Kenya has tightened its laws to stop money laundering: why banks are the focus

SPECIAL FEATURES: ANALYSIS

KENYA’S banking industry has in recent years been in the crosshairs of national, regional and international watchdogs, given the country’s role as a financial hub in eastern Africa. In 2023 Kenya enacted laws to curb money laundering and combat terrorism financing. While the laws have led to tougher sanctions on some banks, the risk of money laundering remains, and the country was recently greylisted by the Financial Action Task Force. A grey list contains countries that are actively working with the Financial Action Task Force to address loopholes in countering money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing. Constance Gikonyo, a…

Mar

2024

By DUNCAN MIRIRI

Kenya tells TikTok to show it is complying with privacy laws

NEWS

KENYA has demanded that TikTok show it is adhering to local privacy and user verification laws, the interior minister said, saying the platform has been used to spread propaganda, carry out fraud and distribute sexual content. TikTok and other social media companies are under pressure from regulators around the world to shield users from harmful content and criminals who take advantage of the sites. "The government, through the office of the Data Protection Commissioner, has contacted TikTok and raised concerns relating to its processing activities," Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki told a parliamentary committee. TikTok, which is owned by Chinese company…