All articles tagged with #kenya
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has expanded to new hot spots, with North Kivu reporting a 58% fatality rate. The virus has spread to half of the country's 34 health zones, and Kenya has confirmed its first case and death, believed to be imported from the DRC.
Kenya has quarantined ten individuals linked to the country’s first confirmed Ebola case, a man who died in Nairobi after traveling from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Health officials are tracing 57 additional contacts as concerns mount over the failure of border screening measures to detect the patient, who was symptomatic for a month before arriving in Kenya. The DRC outbreak, caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain, has killed over 4,000 people this year. While Kenya’s health ministry assures the public that surveillance is heightened, critics highlight significant lapses in border detection and the lack of rapid diagnostic tools at entry points.
Kenya has confirmed its first Ebola case, a Kenyan national who died in Nairobi after traveling from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) via Uganda. The patient, who had lived in the DRC for seven years, tested positive for the rare Bundibugyo strain. Health authorities are quarantining 28 contacts and tracing 27 others from the same flight. The DRC outbreak, now the deadliest in its history, has killed over 4,000 people and infected more than 8,300.
Kenya has confirmed its first Ebola case, marking the fourth country affected by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) outbreak that began in May. A Kenyan national who lived in the DRC for seven years traveled via Uganda to Nairobi, where he died on Monday. Health authorities are tracing 51 contacts, including 23 passengers from the same flight, while the DRC faces its deadliest outbreak on record with over 8,400 cases and 4,000 deaths. The rare Bundibugyo strain lacks an approved vaccine, complicating containment efforts in conflict-affected regions.
Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote and Kenyan President William Ruto broke ground on a $16 billion oil refinery in Lamu, Kenya, designed to process 700,000 barrels of crude daily. The project, expected to be operational by 2030, is East Africa’s largest industrial undertaking. Dangote dismissed local protests over land compensation and environmental concerns, while regional leaders from Uganda, Ethiopia, Togo, and Benin attended the launch to support the initiative.
Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote and Kenyan President William Ruto broke ground on a $16 billion oil refinery in Lamu, Kenya, designed to process 700,000 barrels of crude daily. The project, described as East Africa’s largest industrial undertaking, aims to reduce regional dependence on imported fuel. Dangote has selected US firm Honeywell for a $300 million engineering contract, leveraging designs from his Nigerian refinery to potentially cut the timeline by two years. While Ruto hailed the venture as a 'reckless' but necessary risk for African industrialization, the launch faced protests from local residents over land compensation and environmental concerns, with legal challenges pending in Kenyan courts.
US funding cuts have severely disrupted global HIV prevention efforts, leading to clinic closures, rising infections, and preventable deaths among vulnerable populations in countries like Kenya and Tanzania.
A new study published in Scientific Reports reveals that African elephants in Kenya's Mount Elgon region use at least 35 plant species for medicinal purposes. Researchers, including Dr. Elodie Freymann from Brown University, collaborated with the Mount Elgon Foundation to interview local wildlife scouts and elders. These accounts describe elephants selecting specific plants when unwell and mothers preparing remedies for their calves. The findings suggest that forest habitats act as natural pharmacies, highlighting the importance of preserving biodiversity for potential human medical discoveries.
Kenya’s president ordered a crackdown on foreigners operating small businesses, triggering fear among Burundian and other migrant traders who have rushed to embassies or borders to leave or register; a 90-day window was introduced for undocumented foreign nationals to comply, and some families report disruption as spouses depart, prompting concerns that the move could fuel xenophobia and harm the economy, though officials say it aims to protect Kenyan jobs and regional ties.
After hundreds of Burundians sought Kenya’s embassy in Nairobi amid a crackdown on foreign-owned small businesses, Nairobi announced temporary amnesty for undocumented neighbouring nationals. The government urged registration at diplomatic missions, vowed zero tolerance against harassment, and moved ahead with restricting foreigners from certain trades, while Tata Chemicals will be replaced by two new firms as part of broader economic shifts.
Kenya's Trade Ministry warns visa-free entrants are not authorized to work and will shut down unlicensed migrant-run small businesses, as President William Ruto orders foreigners to cease small-scale trading. The crackdown aims to ensure compliance with work-permit rules and has sparked regional concern among East Africans and Burundian traders about broader impacts on migrant commerce.
Kenya’s President William Ruto ordered a crackdown on foreign nationals running small retail shops and hawking, effective Sept. 7, to reserve such activities for Kenyans while welcoming foreign investment in capital-intensive ventures. The government also pushes the Local Content Bill 2025 to boost local sourcing and employment, with Parliament urged to accelerate its passage; foreigners with valid work permits remain legally protected, though applicability of the directive to current permit holders remains unclear. Analysts say foreign investment should complement Kenyan enterprise, but its impact hinges on implementation. The Tata Chemicals dispute is separate from this directive.
Hundreds of passengers were stranded at Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport as a nationwide go-slow strike by aviation workers caused widespread flight delays and cancellations. Kenya Airways and RwandAir reported disruptions and delays, with talks between unions and airport managers stalling. Passengers faced long waits, including overnight stays in the terminals, as authorities warned of further delays at JKIA, a major regional hub that has seen recurring strikes over working conditions.
Four people (three Kenyans and one Tanzanian) were arrested as investigators probe the deaths of at least 18 elephants in Amboseli National Park, potentially caused by cyanide poisoning from tomatoes sprayed with illegal pesticides; preliminary tests detected cyanide in crops from the elephants' stomachs, and most victims were adult females and calves, with authorities noting cross-border pesticide smuggling near the Kimana corridor between Amboseli and Tsavo.
Seven people, including five Americans, were killed when a charter helicopter operated by Lady Lori Helicopters crashed into Mount Ololokwe in Kenya during a luxury safari tour; the crash occurred at 9:13 a.m. local time and the cause is under investigation.