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☆ Floods kill more than 20 people in northern Tanzania
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

DAR ES SALAAM, Dec 3 (Reuters) - At least 20 people have been killed by floods after heavy rain in the Manyara region of northern Tanzania, the ministry of health said on Sunday. Severe flooding caused by the El Nino weather phenomenon has killed hundreds of people in Kenya and Somalia in recent weeks. "We are very shocked by this event," President Samia Suluhu Hassan said in a video message posted online by the Tanzanian ministry of health. The more than 20 people were killed in Katesh village in the Hanang district of Manyara, the president said. The heavy rain on Saturday night caused landslides in some areas of Mount Hanang, domestic media outlets reported, adding that the waters also swept away livestock.

Persons: Samia Suluhu Hassan, Nuzulack Dausen, Duncan Miriri, Alison Williams Organizations: DAR, SALAAM, El, Tanzanian, Thomson Locations: Manyara, Tanzania, Kenya, Somalia, East Africa, Katesh, Hanang, Mount Hanang

☆ Kenya to begin privatisation drive, offers stakes in 11 companies
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Duncan Miriri | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

FILE PHOTO: The Nairobi skyline is seen in the background as zebras walk through the Nairobi National Park, near Nairobi, Kenya, December 3, 2018. REUTERS/Amir Cohen/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNAIROBI, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Kenya will start its privatisation drive by offering stakes in 11 companies including the state oil pipeline, the finance ministry said on Monday. The 11 firms are among more than 35 companies that are slated for sale to partially help the government raise revenue in the face of growing debt repayments. "Privatisation and restructuring is geared towards the government's efforts for fiscal consolidation and spurring economic development," the ministry added. The government revised the law governing the sale of state companies last month to the eliminate bureaucracy that had made the process grind to a halt, the president said last week.

Persons: Amir Cohen, Duncan Miriri, Miral Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Kenya Pipeline Company, Thomson Locations: Nairobi, Kenya, Rights NAIROBI

☆ Kenya to sell 35 state companies as Africa seeks to jumpstart IPOs
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Duncan Miriri | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NAIROBI, Nov 23 (Reuters) - Kenya's President William Ruto said on Thursday the government was poised to privatise 35 state companies after enacting a law last month to guide the process. Kenya last privatised a state-owned company in 2008 with an initial public offering (IPO) for 25% of the shares in telecommunications firm Safaricom (SCOM.NR). "We have identified the first 35 companies that we are going to offer to the private sector. Kenya's President William Ruto speaks during the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Summit at United Nations headquarters in New York City, New York, U.S., September 18, 2023. "If well harnessed, stock exchanges can be the engine that transforms Africa into a global economic powerhouse and financial centre of the world," the president said.

Persons: William Ruto, Ruto, Njuguna Ndung'u, Ndung'u, Caitlin Ochs, Bourses, Thapelo, Ducan Miriri, Marc Jones, Aaron Ross, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: African, Nairobi . Finance, Reuters, Sustainable, United Nations, REUTERS, Botswana Stock Exchange, Bharti Airtel, Thomson Locations: NAIROBI, Kenya, Nairobi, New York City , New York, U.S, Africa, Uganda, London

☆ U.N. plastic treaty talks grapple with re-use, recycle, reduce debate
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( Duncan Miriri | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Some said the number of submissions represented progress, while campaign group Greenpeace said it was "chaos". Greenpeace said a successful deal would require the United States and the European Union to show greater leadership than they have so far. The International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN), a global network of non-governmental organisations, however, said the proposals reflected the robustness of the Nairobi talks. Less than 10% of the plastic waste is recycled, the U.N. Members of the Saudi delegation at the talks declined to talk to Reuters, while Russian delegates could not immediately be reached for comment.

Persons: INC3, Graham Forbes, IPEN, Duncan Miriri, George Obulutsa, Barbara Lewis Organizations: Greenpeace, Plastics, United Nations, Kenyan, European Union, International Union for Conservation, Nature, European, Saudi, Thomson Locations: NAIROBI, Russia, Saudi Arabia, United States, Nairobi, Switzerland, Uruguay, Canada, Kenya, European Union

☆ U.N. Plastic Treaty Talks Grapple With Re-Use, Recycle, Reduce Debate
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

Persons: Duncan Miriri, INC3, Graham Forbes, IPEN, George Obulutsa, Barbara Lewis Organizations: United Nations, Greenpeace, Kenyan, European Union, International Union for Conservation, Nature, European, Saudi Locations: Duncan Miriri NAIROBI, Russia, Saudi Arabia, United States, Nairobi, Switzerland, Uruguay, Canada, Kenya, European Union

☆ IMF reaches deal with Kenya to raise current financing by $938 million
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A view shows the Nairobi Expressway undertaken by the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) on a public-private partnership (PPP) basis, in Nairobi, Kenya May 8, 2022. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNAIROBI, Nov 16 (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund has reached a staff-level agreement with Kenya for immediate access of $682.3 million and an increase in its current program's funding by $938 million, the fund said on Thursday. That will include a new augmentation to Kenya's access under the financing program by an equivalent amount of $938 million. The facility was bumped up in May by an extra $1 billion, including $544 million under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF), and a new arrangement under the same RSF. Writing by George Obulutsa; Additional reporting by Bangalore Newsroom; Editing by Duncan Miriri and Shri NavaratnamOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Thomas Mukoya, George Obulutsa, Duncan Miriri Organizations: China, Bridge Corporation, REUTERS, Rights, Monetary Fund, East, Fund, Resilience, Sustainability, Bangalore, Thomson Locations: Nairobi, Kenya, Rights NAIROBI

☆ Ethio Lease set to wind down operations in Ethiopia
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NAIROBI, Nov 15 (Reuters) - Equipment leasing company Ethio Lease, Ethiopia's only foreign-owned firm to obtain a financial services licence from the central bank, said on Wednesday it was winding down operations in the east African country. The National Bank of Ethiopia granted a financial services license to Ethio Lease in 2019 - the first such for a foreign firm - as part of the government's economic reforms aimed at opening up the economy. New York-based African Asset Finance Company, the owner of Ethio Lease, has instructed the company to begin the process of voluntary liquidation, Ethio Lease said in a statement. "Despite their sustained efforts, Ethio Lease and its investors have been unable to achieve resolution with the Ethiopian government." Ethio Lease's license enabled it to lease equipment such as MRI scanners, tractors and drilling rigs to companies that could not import such equipment themselves due to foreign exchange shortages.

Persons: Abiy Ahmed, Bhargav Acharya, Duncan Miriri, Jason Neely, Alexander Winning, Nellie Peyton, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Equipment, Ethio, National Bank of, Lease, African Asset Finance Company, Ethio Lease, birr, Ethiopian, Thomson Locations: NAIROBI, National Bank of Ethiopia, New York, birr, Johannesburg, Nairobi

U.S. officials visiting South Africa this week to meet African trade ministers will face calls to reauthorise the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) which expires in 2025. Apparel companies and industry insiders warn that Africa risks a once-in-a-generation shift away from Chinese manufacturing passing it by, with an estimated 240,000 to 290,000 jobs such as Nasimiyu's under threat. Apparel has been the standout success story of AGOA, which launched in 2000 to help develop African economies and foster democracy. African apparel exports under the programme reached nearly $1.4 billion last year, double the amount pre-AGOA. "We've been struck by how open the opportunity is now for us," South African Trade Minister Ebrahim Patel said last week.

Persons: Norah Nasimiyu, Thomas Mukoya, Pankaj Bedi, Norah Nasimiyu's, We've, Ebrahim Patel, Stephen Lamar, Michael Walsh, Constance Hamilton, Biden, Greg Poole, Bedi, Joe Bavier, Duncan Miriri, Alexander Smith Organizations: United Aryan, Processing, The U.S, REUTERS, U.S . Congress, AFRICA Industry, African Trade, United States Fashion Industry Association, American Apparel and Footwear Association, Congress, Research, U.S . International Trade Commission, GSP, UAL, Thomson Locations: Ruaraka district, Nairobi, Kenya, China, NAIROBI, U.S, South Africa, Africa, Philadelphia, Moscow, Beijing, Russia, Lesotho, Madagascar, Ethiopia, AGOA, gridlock, United States, Johannesburg

☆ Britain's King Charles visits Kenya with colonialism's scars in focus
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Duncan Miriri | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/9] Britain's King Charles inspects the honour guards as he is hosted by Kenya's President William Ruto at State House in Nairobi, Kenya October 31, 2023. Accompanied by Queen Camilla on his first visit as monarch to a former colony, Charles arrived in the capital Nairobi overnight. Charles' visit comes at a time when former colonies are demanding that Britain do more to recognise the abuses of its colonial past. Nandi King Koitalel Arap Samoei led a decade-long rebellion until he was assassinated by a British colonel in 1905. Charles also plans to meet entrepreneurs from Kenya's bustling tech scene, tour wildlife facilities and travel to the southeastern port city of Mombasa.

Persons: King Charles, William Ruto, Arthur Edwards, Queen Camilla, Charles, Kenya's Nandi, Buckingham, Kenya's, Nandi King Koitalel Arap Samoei, Samoei's, Kipchoge araap Chomu, Aaron Ross, Hereward, Hereward Holland, Michael Perry, John Stonestreet Organizations: Kenya's, State House, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Kenyan, Commonwealth, Kenya Human Rights, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Nairobi, Kenya, Rights NAIROBI, Uhuru Gardens, Barbados, Jamaica, British, Mombasa, Hereward Holland

☆ Britain's King Charles begins Kenya visit steeped in 'painful' colonial history
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Duncan Miriri | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/6] Britain's King Charles is hosted by Kenya's President William Ruto at State House in Nairobi, Kenya October 31, 2023. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya Acquire Licensing RightsNAIROBI, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Britain's King Charles begins a four-day state visit to Kenya on Tuesday, his first to a former colony, during which he plans to acknowledge "painful aspects" of a shared history that included almost seven decades of colonial rule. Accompanied by Queen Camilla, Charles arrived in the East African country overnight and will be received by Kenyan President William Ruto in the capital Nairobi on Tuesday morning. Buckingham Palace says the visit is a reflection of the two countries' close cooperation on economic development, climate change and security issues. The most notorious period of British rule came near the end, during the 1952-1960 Mau Mau revolt in central Kenya.

Persons: King Charles, William Ruto, Thomas Mukoya, Britain's King Charles, Queen Camilla, Charles, Buckingham, Camilla, Queen Elizabeth, Nandi, Koitalel Arap Samoie, Samoie's, Kipchoge araap Chomu, Aaron Ross, Hereward, Hereward Holland, Michael Perry Organizations: Kenya's, State House, REUTERS, Rights, Kenyan, Kenya Human Rights, Commonwealth, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Nairobi, Kenya, Rights NAIROBI, East, Mombassa, Barbados, Jamaica, British, Hereward Holland

"We would like to start as quickly as possible," he said of the buyback. Exceptional access would allow Kenya to ask for more than its limit of IMF funding. As of Oct. 5, the central bank said it had $6.9 billion in usable foreign exchange reserves, enough to cover around 3.7 months' worth of imports. The central bank held its main interest rate (KECBIR=ECI) at 10.5% on Oct. 3. Despite Kenya's debt pressures, the economy is set to grow 5.5% this year and around 6% in 2024, Thugge said, above the IMF forecasts for Sub-Saharan Africa of 3.3% and 4% respectively.

Persons: Kamau Thugge, Thugge, Rachel Savage, Jorgelina, Duncan Miriri, Karin Strohecker, Elisa Martinuzzi, Jan Harvey Organizations: Reuters, Trade, Development Bank, African Export, Import Bank, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Thomson Locations: MARRAKECH, Morocco, Kenya, Marrakech, Saharan Africa, Rosario, Nairobi

☆ Netflix to end Kenyan free access plan after two years
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic Acquire Licensing RightsNAIROBI, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Netflix (NFLX.O) said on Monday it is ending its free mobile plan in Kenya, which has allowed users to access a quarter of its shows and movies without paying over the past two years. "We definitely learnt a lot from the test," a Netflix spokesperson told Reuters, without giving details. Netflix is rolling out an advertisement-supported plan, offering subscribers a monthly plan at 4.99 pounds ($6.07), but the spokesperson did not comment on its availability in Kenya. Although low middle-income economies like Kenya offer streaming services big opportunities for subscriber growth, they also pose challenges as purchasing power dwindles due to inflation, industry executives said. Under the free plan, which will end on Nov. 1, viewers were able to watch Western-produced shows like "Money Heist" and "Bridgerton", and African ones like "Blood & Water".

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Duncan Miriri, Aaron Ross, Alexander Smith Organizations: Netflix, REUTERS, Rights, Thomson Locations: Rights NAIROBI, Kenya, Africa

☆ Kenya to ask China for $1 bln loan to complete road projects, longer debt repayments
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A view shows the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport toll station on the Nairobi Expressway undertaken by the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) on a public-private partnership (PPP) basis, along Mombasa road in Embakasi district of Nairobi, Kenya May 7, 2023. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNAIROBI, Oct 6 (Reuters) - Kenya's President William Ruto will ask China for a $1 billion loan to complete stalled road construction projects when he travels to Beijing later this month, his deputy said on Friday. "At the moment we are paying debt and people are not using roads because many of them are half finished," Gachagua said. Kenya owes China more than $8 billion in loans for infrastructure projects such as railways and roads. Reporting by Duncan Miriri and George Obulutsa; Editing by Mark Potter and Kim CoghillOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Thomas Mukoya, William Ruto, Ruto, Rigathi Gachagua, Gachagua, Duncan Miriri, George Obulutsa, Mark Potter, Kim Coghill Organizations: Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, China, Bridge Corporation, REUTERS, Rights, Thomson Locations: Nairobi, Mombasa, Embakasi district, Kenya, Rights NAIROBI, Beijing, East, China

☆ Kenya panel urges shutdown of Worldcoin's crypto project within country
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Duncan Miriri | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Worldcoin was rolled out in various countries around the world by Tools for Humanity, a company co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. The project still has a virtual presence in Kenya and can be accessed via the Internet, even after the August suspension. It also called for the suspension of the companies' "physical presence in Kenya until there is a legal framework for regulation of virtual assets and virtual services providers." The panel also asked government ministries to develop regulations for crypto assets and firms that provide crypto services and called on the police to investigate Tools for Humanity and take any necessary legal action. Reporting by Duncan Miriri; Editing by Aaron Ross and Hugh LawsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Annegret, Sam Altman, Duncan Miriri, Aaron Ross, Hugh Lawson Organizations: REUTERS, Humanity Corp, Kenyan, Humanity, Communications Authority, Humanity GmbH, National Assembly, Thomson Locations: Berlin, Germany, NAIROBI, Britain, France, Kenya

☆ Kenya Pledges Security Boost as It Commemorates 2013 Mall Massacre
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Duncan MiririNAIROBI (Reuters) - Kenya pledged on Thursday to reinforce security measures against Somali militants as it commemorated a deadly mall attack which security analysts say led to improvements in the country's readiness to counter threats. Kenyan security forces were widely criticised by the public and local media at the time for their chaotic, uncoordinated response to the attack. After the siege, Kenya worked to improve its security agencies' coordination and readiness to respond to emergencies. Kenyan security forces were praised for ending that siege in less than a day. The government has also been deploying the military and other security forces to fight cattle rustlers and armed bandits in several counties in East Africa's Rift Valley.

Persons: Duncan Miriri, Raymond Omollo, Richard Maige, al, Nicolas Delaunay, Estelle Shirbon, Emelia Organizations: Somali, East, Southern Africa, Crisis Locations: Duncan Miriri NAIROBI, Kenya, Somalia's al Shabaab, Westgate, Nairobi, Somalia, al Shabaab, Kenyan, Southern, Lamu, East

☆ Hundreds of millions pledged for African carbon credits at inaugural climate summit
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( Duncan Miriri | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Companies Climate FollowVitol SA FollowNAIROBI, Sept 4 (Reuters) - An initiative to boost Africa's carbon credit production 19-fold by 2030 drew hundreds of millions of dollars of pledges on Monday as Kenyan President William Ruto opened the continent's first climate summit. In one of the most anticipated deals, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) committed to buying $450 million of carbon credits from the Africa Carbon Markets Initiative (ACMI). "There hasn't been any success for an African country in attracting climate finance," said Bogolo Kenewendo, a United Nations climate adviser and former trade minister in Botswana. Many African campaigners have opposed the summit's approach to climate finance, and about 500 people marched in downtown Nairobi on Monday to protest. They say carbon credits are a pretext for continued pollution by wealthier countries and corporations, who should instead pay their "climate debt" through direct compensation and debt relief.

Persons: William Ruto, Ruto, Bogolo Kenewendo, Bogolo, Kevin Kariuki, Patricia Scotland, Esa Alexander, we've, Hassan Ghazali, Britain, Sultan Al Jaber, COP28, Duncan Miriri, Simon Jessop, Jefferson Kahinju, Aaron Ross, Hereward Holland, Angus MacSwan, Susan Fenton Organizations: United Arab Emirates, Africa Carbon Markets, United, African Development Bank, Reuters, International Monetary Fund, REUTERS, Climate Asset Management, HSBC Asset Management, Debt, Green, Thomson Locations: NAIROBI, UAE, Nairobi, Africa, United Nations, Botswana, Muloza, Mozambique, Blantyre, Malawi, Liberia, Tanzania, Germany, Kenya

☆ Uber rolls out electric bike fleet in Kenya, its first in Africa
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Duncan Miriri | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Uber boda boda riders prepare to ride the first fleet of the company's electric product during their launch in Nairobi, Kenya, August 31, 2023. REUTERS/Monicah Mwangi Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Uber Technologies Inc FollowNAIROBI, Aug 31 (Reuters) - Ride-hailing firm Uber (UBER.N) on Thursday launched an electric motorbike service in Kenya, its first in Africa, as the company seeks to make its global platform emissions free by 2040. Uber's new green product in Kenya, dubbed Electric Boda in a nod to the Swahili term for motorbike taxis, will comprise 3,000 bikes within six months, or just under a fifth of its fleet. The growth of the electric vehicles market in Africa has been slowed by a lack of adequate electric charging infrastructure and associated equipment. Motorbike transport is a big employer in Kenya, absorbing millions of people who are unable to secure formal jobs.

Persons: Monicah, Uber, Kagiso Khaole, Khaole, William Ruto, Duncan Miriri, Aaron Ross, Alex Richardson Organizations: REUTERS, Technologies, Thomson Locations: Nairobi, Kenya, NAIROBI, Africa, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa, Saharan Africa

☆ African climate summit seeks to shift focus to finance from floods, famine
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Duncan Miriri | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

A report last year by the non-profit Climate Policy Initiative found Africa has received only 12% of the finance it needs to cope with climate impacts. The thousands of delegates are expected to debate solutions ahead of a U.N. climate summit next month in New York in September and the COP28 U.N. summit in the United Arab Emirates from the end of November. The summit's organisers also say they expect deals worth hundreds of millions of dollars to be concluded in Nairobi. In June, it hosted an auction where companies from Saudi Arabia bought more than 2.2 million tonnes of carbon credits. One project generating carbon credits in Kenya is BURN Manufacturing's production of clean cooking stoves to replace heavily polluting wood and charcoal-based fires.

Persons: Finbarr O'Reilly, Soipan Tuya, Amos Wemanya, Chris McKinney, Joseph Ng'ang'a, Duncan Miriri, Christophe Van Der, Aaron Ross, Barbara Lewis Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Initiative, Kenyan Environment, United, United Arab Emirates, Kenya, Africa Carbon Markets, Thomson Locations: Haute Uele, Congo, Rights NAIROBI, Africa, Nairobi, New York, United Arab, Gabon, Saudi Arabia, Kenya, Egypt

☆ Kenyan minister apologises after main airport loses power in blackout
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A reflection from the windows show Kenya Airways planes parked at terminal within the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport near Nairobi, Kenya March 7, 2023. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNAIROBI, Aug 26 (Reuters) - Kenya's transport minister apologised to the country late on Friday night after a widespread electricity blackout left passengers at the main airport in Nairobi grappling in darkness. Power went off in many parts of the country at 9.45 p.m. on Friday, the electricity distribution company Kenya Power (KPLC.NR) said in a statement, attributing the loss to "a system disturbance leading to the loss of bulk power supply". "I'm really sorry for what has happened at the JKIA with the blackout," Transport Minister Kipchumba Murkomen said on social media platform X, formerly Twitter. Kenya Power said it had restored supply to the airport, five hours after the incident began.

Persons: Thomas Mukoya, Power, Kipchumba Murkomen, Kenya Power, Duncan Miriri, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: Kenya Airways, Jomo Kenyatta International, REUTERS, Rights, Kenya Power, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Authority, Kenya, Thomson Locations: Nairobi, Kenya, Rights NAIROBI

☆ Ethiopian Airlines to manufacture parts in venture with Boeing
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

An Ethiopia’s Airlines Boeing 737 Max 8 plane to take off on a demonstration trip to resume flights from the Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia February 1, 2022. REUTERS/Tiksa Negeri Acquire Licensing RightsNAIROBI, Aug 18 (Reuters) - Ethiopian Airlines will start manufacturing aircraft parts in a venture with Boeing (BA.N) at an initial cost of $15 million, the government's investment agency said on Friday. The state-owned carrier, which is the biggest in Africa, has already signed the deal that also involves the local state Industrial Parks Development Corporation, the Ethiopian Investment Commission said on X, formerly known as Twitter. The venture will make "aerospace parts, including aircraft thermo-acoustic insulation blankets, electrical wire harnesses, and other parts," the commission said. It was not immediately clear if Ethiopian Airlines has also suffered from similar lack of parts.

Persons: George Obulutsa, Duncan Miriri, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Ethiopia’s Airlines Boeing, Max, REUTERS, Tiksa, Acquire, Rights, Ethiopian Airlines, Boeing, Industrial Parks Development Corporation, Ethiopian Investment Commission, Twitter, Kenya Airways, Thomson Locations: Bole, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Rights NAIROBI, Africa, Ukraine

☆ At least 48 killed in road accident in western Kenya, police say
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

June 30 (Reuters) - At least 48 people were killed in a road accident in Londiani, western Kenya, on Friday evening when a lorry carrying a shipping container veered off the road and ploughed into several vehicles, police and witnesses said. Regional police commander Tom Odera said the death toll stood at 48 on Friday evening. The trailer went off the road and hit other vehicles," said Peter Otieno, a driver. The Kenya Red Cross said the lorry rammed more than six vehicles and ran over pedestrians. "The country mourns with the families who have lost loved ones in a horrific road accident in Londiani," Kenyan President William Ruto wrote in a tweet.

Persons: Tom Odera, swerved, Peter Otieno, William Ruto, Humphrey Malalo, Duncan Miriri, Hereward Holland, Leslie Adler, Sandra Maler, Alistair Bell Organizations: Regional, Kenya, Cross, Kenyan, Thomson Locations: Londiani, Kenya, Nairobi

Kenyan shipments of tea - its major export - have fallen by a fifth over the last year, according to the local regulator. The spike in global interest rates has already tipped Sri Lanka and Ghana into defaulting. Reuters GraphicsBLACK MARKETAlthough the dollar's share as a global reserve currency has dropped to 59% from 70% over a decade, it continues to dominate global trade. Nigeria has long had a web of multiple exchange rates which it is now trying to untangle, having also devalued its naira currency again last week. A plunge of around 70% in Bolivia's reserves has spawned queues at banks and currency exchange shops as some merchants stopped accepting local currency.

Persons: Wilson Muthaura, KTDA, Charlie Robertson, Muthaura, David Willacy, Ojo, Chaucer, Ronal, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Kristalina Georgieva, William Ruto, Duncan Miriri, Marc Jones, Macdonald Dzirutwe, Monica Machicao, Mayela Armas, David Sherwood, Catherine Evans Organizations: Bank, FIM Partners, Reuters Graphics, Workers, REUTERS, La Paz, West, Reuters, JPMorgan, Monetary Fund, IMF, Fund, Thomson Locations: NAIROBI, LONDON, Pakistan, COVID, Russia, Ukraine, London, Islamabad, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Ghana, Tunisia, teetering, Nigeria, Kenya, StoneX, Nigeria's, Lagos, British, Cuba, Venezuela, Githunguri, Kiambu County, United States, Lebanon, Turkey, Ethiopia, China, India, Johannesburg, Saudi Arabia, Africa, Argentina, Nairobi, La Paz, Caracas, Havana

☆ Kenyan president's tax hikes alienate his 'hustler' base
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( Duncan Miriri | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Ruto has also faced criticism for increasing allocations to his office and the deputy president's while cutting petrol subsidies. The proposals, contained in a draft law known as the finance bill, will be considered by parliament alongside the 2023-24 budget to be presented by the finance minister on Thursday. The president and his allies have defended the tax hikes, saying East Africa's economic powerhouse needs more revenue to avert a debt crisis and fund affordable housing projects. One man in Githunguri, who declined to give his name, defended the finance bill, saying Ruto was simply trying to leave his mark by constructing affordable housing. Fruit vendor John Nyaga, another Ruto voter, complained that the tax hikes would leave his customers with even less money to spend.

Persons: William Ruto, Ruto, Jacqueline Wambui, Ruto's, Uhuru Kenyatta, Raila Odinga, John Nyaga, Duncan Miriri, Aaron Ross, Ed Osmond Organizations: REUTERS, Ruto, Thomson Locations: Kiambu County, Kenya, GITHUNGURI, Nairobi, Ukraine, Githunguri

☆ Kenya's parliament approves appointment of new central banker
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Duncan Miriri | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

He will replace Patrick Njoroge, who is retiring after serving two terms as the central bank governor since 2015. In a voice vote, lawmakers adopted the report of the National Assembly's finance committee, which urged the house to back his appointment after vetting his suitability for the post. His predecessor, Njoroge, has maintained stable prices for most of his eight years at the helm. But the World Bank expects growth to edge up to 5.0% in 2023, underpinned by a recovery in agriculture. Reporting by Duncan Miriri; Writing by Alexander Winning; Editing by David EvansOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Thugge, William Ruto's, Kamau, Ruto, Patrick Njoroge, Duncan Miriri, Alexander Winning, David Evans Organizations: Njoroge, National, Johns Hopkins University, International Monetary Fund, Kenyan, Treasury, Bank, Thomson Locations: Ruto, U.S

☆ Kenyan police fire tear gas at protesters marching against finance bill
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NAIROBI, June 6 (Reuters) - Kenyan police fired tear gas at hundreds of people protesting near parliament on Tuesday against a proposed finance bill that would hike taxes on fuel and housing. Police fired tear gas to disperse about 500 protesters who marched to parliament to present a petition against the bill, a Reuters witness said. REUTERS/Thomas MukoyaEleven protesters were seen being detained by police. In downtown Nairobi, plain-clothed police officers were seen carrying an activist who held a placard that read: "Colonialism never really ended." Labour unions, including one representing health workers, also protested against the bill last week.

Persons: William Ruto, Thomas Mukoya, Ruto, La, Raila Odinga, Duncan Miriri, Bhargav Acharya, Alex Richardson, Andrew Heavens Organizations: Kenyan, Police, REUTERS, Labour, Thomson Locations: NAIROBI, East, Nairobi, Kenya

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