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☆ US asks Haiti’s Prime Minister to ‘move forward’ on political transition amid turmoil
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Caitlin Stephen Hu | Richard Roth | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The US has called for “urgent” movement toward a political transition in Haiti, as gangs run amok in the nation’s capital and opposition groups demand Prime Minister Ariel Henry’s resignation. Henry landed in Puerto Rico on Tuesday after days of speculation about his whereabouts. US officials had called Henry mid-flight in an effort to persuade him to step aside in favor of a transitional administration, the report said. Ahead of the meeting, the UN’s High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk urged the international community to “act swiftly and decisively to prevent Haiti’s further descent into chaos.”“This situation is beyond untenable for the people of Haiti,” he said. “We are simply running out of time.”This is a developing story and will be updated.

Persons: Ariel Henry’s, Henry, United Nations Linda Thomas, Greenfield, we’ve, Prince, Henry’s, Jimmy Cherizier, “, ”, Ariel Henry doesn’t, Ariel Henry, ” Cherizier, Volker Türk, Haiti’s Organizations: CNN, Kenyan, Miami Herald, Herald, United Nations, Reuters, Core, UN Security, Human Locations: Haiti, Puerto Rico, Kenya, Caribbean, Washington, Dominican Republic, Dominican, Haitian, Port, United States, Canada, France

☆ Haitian prime minister has arrived in Puerto Rico amid turmoil in Haiti, local official says
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Tara John | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —A plane carrying Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry landed in Puerto Rico on Tuesday, its governor’s spokesperson told CNN, after days of speculation about his whereabouts as Haitian capital Port-au-Prince plunged into crisis over the weekend. Since last week, Port-au-Prince has been gripped by a wave of highly coordinated gang attacks on law enforcement and state institutions. The prime minister’s last appearance in public was in Kenya on Friday, before arriving today in Puerto Rico, per Mojica. Haiti’s government declared a state of emergency on Sunday amid the spiraling violence in Port-au-Prince. “We fear we will run out of medicines and medical supplies, which are absolutely essential to meet the enormous needs we are facing at the moment,” Haiti MSF head Mumuza Muhindo Musubah said in a statement.

Persons: Ariel Henry, Prince, Sheila Angleró Mojica, Henry’s, Henry, Patrick Boivert, Luis Abinader, Muhindo Musubah Organizations: CNN, Haitian, CBP, Customs, Kenyan, United Nations, Finance, ”, ” MSF, UN Locations: Puerto Rico, Port, Kenya, Haiti, Caribbean, Dominican Republic, Dominican

Port-au-Prince, Haiti CNN —From above, Haiti’s capital city Port-au-Prince still looks serene, its white-washed homes climbing steep green hills that encircle a glittering bay. Police officers run holding their guns while confronting a gang in Port-au-Prince, Haiti March 1, 2024. Haiti’s gangs were once seen as thuggish instruments for powerful politicians and business elites. Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry at the United States International University Africa, in Nairobi on March 1, 2024. Anger toward the government for Haiti’s gangs problem is misplaced, he also said, emphasizing that the government has limited options.

Persons: Toussaint, Prince, Ariel Henry, Haiti’s, “, ”, Jimmy “, Robin Hood, Ralph Tedy Erol, Henry, “ Ariel Henry, Haiti Ulrika Richardson, Kraze Barye, John Bosco, Jeremie, CNN’s, Ariel kraze peyi, Ariel, Jovenel Moise, Guy Philippe, Odric Octina, Johnson Sabin, Shutterstock, Simon Maina, Henry’s, Jean Junior Joseph, –, Leinz Vales, Sean Walker Organizations: Haiti CNN, CNN, Police, United Nations, FBI, Global, Transnational, UN, National Police, Haitian, Canadian Embassy, Catholic, St, Bank, ”, Haitian Environment, Penitentiary, Reuters, Haiti, Caricom, United States International University Africa, Getty, Kenyan, United Nations Security Council, United Locations: Prince, Haiti, Port, Toussaint L’Ouverture, Kenya, New York, Delmas, Cité, Kizito, Jeremie, farmworkers, United States, Canada, It’s, Haitian, West, Nairobi, AFP

☆ Haiti: Hundreds of prisoners escape Port-au-Prince prison as violence escalates
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-02 | by ( Caitlin Hu | Manveena Suri | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Hundreds of prisoners have escaped from Haiti’s National Penitentiary in the capital, Port-au-Prince, after fighting broke out on Saturday, according to a law enforcement source. On Friday, Haitian gang leader Jimmy Cherizier, also known as Barbecue, said he would continue in his effort to try and oust Prime Minister Ariel Henry. “We ask the Haitian National Police and the military to take responsibility and arrest Ariel Henry. Caribbean leaders said Wednesday that Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry had agreed to hold general elections no later than August 31, 2025. Warring gangs control much of Port-au-Prince, choking off vital supply lines to the rest of the country.

Persons: Prince, Jimmy Cherizier, Ariel Henry, “, ” Cherizier, Ralph Tedy Erol, Henry, William Ruto Organizations: CNN, Haiti’s Police, National, Haitian National Police, United Nations, United States Department of Treasury, Protesters, Wednesday, Haitian, Kenyan, Central Directorate of, Judicial Police Locations: Haiti’s, Port, Prince, Haiti, Kenya, United

CNN —Heavy gunfire has forced flight cancellations at Haiti’s main airport and killed at least four at a police station, as the Caribbean nation grapples with surging gang violence and political instability. Haiti has been gripped by a wave of unrest and gang violence in recent years. A powerful Haitian gang leader said gun fights that broke out across Port-au-Prince on Thursday were aimed at overthrowing Henry’s government, multiple media outlets reported. An attack on Bon Repos Police Station, north of Port-au-Prince, on Thursday left at least four people dead and three wounded, a security source told CNN. The security mission, authorized by the UN, has been seen by the international community as key to contain a full-blow fallout in Haiti.

Persons: Toussaint, “, Laura Masvidal, Jovenel Moise, Ariel Henry, Henry, Jimmy Cherizier, ”, William Ruto, Antony Blinken Organizations: CNN, American Airlines, Toussaint Louverture, Haitian airline Sunrise Airways, ”, Sunrise Airways, United Nations, UN, Office, CARICOM, Bon Repos Police, Haitian National Police, Multinational, United Nations Security Council, Kenyan, United, Haitian, police Locations: Caribbean, Miami, Port, Haiti, United, Haitian, Kenya, United States

Reliable and affordable food and commodity imports are more important to a net food importer like Kenya than to some other countries. Perhaps more importantly, a critical part of the world's food supply system remains disrupted, undermining food security and raising the underlying costs of cross-border trade. The governments of Kenya and Ukraine are also working together on food security. Meanwhile, Russia's own efforts to play a part in rebuilding food security have been more a public relations exercise than real action. Although Russian sources have claimed that such shipments have begun, there is still little evidence of Russian food aid arriving in Africa.

Persons: Timothy Njagi Njeru, Kalya Kiptiony, Dr Abraham Korir SingOei, William Ruto, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Russia's, Dr Njeru, Lensa Omune Organizations: Tegemeo Institute, Kenyan, Initiative, Kenya's Ministry of Foreign, Diaspora Affairs, International Food Policy Research Institute, Insider Studios, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Locations: East Africa, Ukraine, Kenya, Russian, Nairobi, Russia, Africa, Horn, Port, Mombasa

☆ Henry Rono, Record-Breaking Distance Runner From Kenya, Dies at 72
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-24 | by ( Alex Williams | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Henry Rono, a Kenyan distance runner who was unable to walk until he was 6 after a gruesome injury to his right leg when he was a toddler but went on to break four world records in just 81 days in 1978, died on Thursday in Nairobi. His death was announced by Athletics Kenya, an amateur athletic association. He died in a hospital, where he had spent 10 days with an unspecified illness. Rono was twice denied shots at Olympic glory in his 20s, when Kenya joined boycotts of the Games in 1976 and 1980. Even so, he was celebrated as one of the country’s great athletes.

Persons: Henry Rono, Rono Organizations: Athletics Kenya, Games, Washington State University Locations: Kenyan, Nairobi, Kenya

☆ Kelvin Kiptum’s funeral: Thousands in Kenya mourn marathon hero as family pays emotional tributes
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Larry Madowo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Nairobi, Kenya CNN —Kenyan politicians and leaders in sports gathered on Friday for a funeral service celebrating the life of marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum, who died in a road accident last Sunday. Kiptum, 24, and his coach Gervais Hakizimana died at the scene of the crash outside the Rift Valley town of Eldoret, police said. Kiptum’s widow, Asenath Cheruto, led the ceremony and paid tribute to her late husband with a moving speech. For Kelvin’s family, his fellow athletes, the legion of friends from within and beyond athletics … But I can speak on behalf of the entire world athletics family,” Coe said“Kelvin, you will be missed. The President of Athletics Kenya Jackson Tuwei announced that Golazo, a company specializing in athletes management, is launching the Kelvin Kiptum Foundation, which “will predominantly provide continued financial support for education and infrastructure.”

Persons: Kelvin Kiptum, William Ruto, Rigathi Gachagua, Musalia Mudavadi, Gervais Hakizimana, Kiptum’s, Asenath Cheruto, “, ” Cheruto, ”, Cheruto, Sebastian Coe, ” Coe, Kelvin, “ Kelvin, Athletics Kenya Jackson Tuwei Organizations: Kenya CNN — Kenyan, Athletics, Athletics Kenya, Kelvin, Kelvin Kiptum Foundation Locations: Nairobi, Kenya, Elgeyo Marakwet, Eldoret

It was clear that the war could significantly damage the Kenyan economy, as the country is almost entirely dependent on imports for its conventional fuel supply. But the extent of the damage caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine to Kenya's economy is now clearer than ever. Kalya Kiptiony, investment analystFuel is Kenya's economic lifebloodAfter the start of the war, the price of fuel in Kenya rose, on average, 7.6% every month. Although Kenya gets most of its oil from the Gulf, Russia's invasion of Ukraine led to a spike in fuel prices worldwide. In a report late last year, the UN described just how factors like drought, inflation, and fuel and food price rises are combining to undermine livelihoods in Kenya.

Persons: Lensa Omune, Kalya, Kalya Kiptiony Organizations: International Food Policy Research Institute, Central Bank, IMF, UN, Insider Studios, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Kenya, Nairobi, East Africa, Africa, Europe

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden plans to welcome Kenyan President William Ruto to the White House in May, hosting a state visit after reneging on his promise to visit Africa last year. Biden hosted a state dinner celebrating close ally Australia in October, which followed the president's skipping a stop in that country earlier in 2023 to focus on debt limit talks in Washington. But those festivities last fall were toned down some given Israel’s ongoing war with Hamas. Biden said in December 2022 that he would visit sub-Saharan Africa the following year, which would have made him the first U.S. president to travel there in a decade. Biden pulled off last-minute trips to Israel and Vietnam, as well as a secretive journey to Ukraine.

Persons: Joe Biden, William Ruto, reneging, Karine Jean, Pierre, ” Jean, “, Rutto’s, Rachel Ruto, Biden, Kamala Harris, he'd Organizations: WASHINGTON, Kenyan, White House, White, Hamas, Africa, Summit Locations: Africa, Kenya, Haiti, U.S, Washington, Australia, Saharan Africa, Israel, Vietnam, Ukraine, Dubai, November's, Russia, East Palestine , Ohio, Norfolk Southern

☆ Kenyan delegate to meetings on Haiti security found dead in Washington hotel
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Story Reuters | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Reuters —A Kenyan official who had been in Washington for talks on a planned international security force to help Haitian police fight gangs was found dead in his hotel room this week, police in the US capital said on Thursday. Washington police said they found 39-year-old Nyamato Walter unconscious in a hotel room in downtown Washington on Tuesday morning, and pronounced him dead at the scene. No deployment date has been set, and the United Nations has yet to publish details of a fund set up to gather contributions from member states. Some other African and Caribbean countries have also pledged support, while the United States has offered funds. Heavily-armed gangs have since grown in strength and are now estimated to control most of the capital, Port-au-Prince.

Persons: Reuters —, Walter, Haiti’s, William Ruto Organizations: Reuters, Kenyan, Washington, United Nations Locations: Washington, UN, Nairobi, Caribbean, United States, Port

BERLIN (AP) — The head of the jury at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival pushed back on political questions as the festival kicked off on Thursday, seeking instead to shift the focus to the tough selection ahead for the best movie. ... We are having robust conversations.”Nyong'o is the Berlinale’s first Black jury president and said she felt greatly honored to lead this year’s jury. One question she could not avoid was about the far-right Alternative for Germany party, or AfD, which the organizers last week uninvited to the opening gala. Five AfD politicians had been expected to attend since members of all parties in Berlin’s state legislature are invited to events supported with public money. German director Christian Petzold appeared critical about the decision to uninvite the AfD politicians.

Persons: ”, Cillian Murphy, “ It’s, Lupita Nyong'o, ” Nyong'o, Nyong'o, Christian Petzold, Berlinale, Jasmine Trinca, Petzold, Mati Diop, Abderrahmane Sissako, emigrates, Trinca, Brady Corbet, Ann Hui, Albert Serra, Oksana Zabuzhko Organizations: BERLIN, Berlin, Kenyan, Germany Locations: Mexican, Israel, Gaza, Ukraine, Berlin’s, Germany, Italian, French, Senegalese, Dahomey, Benin, West Africa, Mauritian, Ivorian, China, Africa, Berlin

LOISABA CONSERVANCY, Kenya (AP) — Conservationists in Kenya are celebrating as rhinos were returned to a grassy plateau that hasn't seen them in decades. The rhinos were taken from three parks that are becoming overcrowded to the private Loisaba Conservancy, where herds were wiped out by poaching decades ago. Kenya now has around 1,000 black rhinos, the third biggest population behind South Africa and Namibia. There are just over 6,400 wild black rhinos left in the world, all of them in Africa, according to the Save the Rhino organization. Tom Silvester, the CEO of Loisaba Conservancy, said Kenya's plan is to get its black rhino numbers to 2,000 over the next decade.

Persons: “ It’s, ”, Daniel Ole Yiankere, David Ndere, ” Ndere, Tom Silvester, Silvester, ___ Odula Organizations: Conservancy, Loisaba, Rhinos, Kenya Wildlife Service, Rhino, Loisaba Conservancy, ___ AP Locations: LOISABA CONSERVANCY, Kenya, Nairobi, ”, South Africa, Namibia, Africa, Loisaba, ___, africa

BERLIN (AP) — The 74th Berlin International Film Festival opens Thursday with the world premiere of “Small Things Like These” starring man of the moment Cillian Murphy. Festival directors Mariette Rissenbeek and Carlo Chatrian, who will step down after this year, expressed their aim for “open dialogue” surrounding the war. The duo’s previous film, “Ballad of a White Cow,” premiered in competition in Berlin in 2021. Kenyan-Mexican actor Lupita Nyong’o will serve as the Berlinale’s first black jury president at this year’s festival. Isabelle Huppert will return to Berlin to collect her unclaimed lifetime achievement from 2022, when the French acting icon could not attend.

Persons: Cillian Murphy, Murphy, “ Oppenheimer, ”, “, Blinders, Tim Mielants, Eileen Walsh, Michelle Fairley, Emily Watson, Magdalene laundries, Mariette Rissenbeek, Carlo Chatrian, ” It’s, haven’t, Ayo Tsalithaba, Suneil Sanzgiri, Maryam Moghaddam, Sanaeeha, Berlinale, AfD’s, Kristin Brinker, Lupita Nyong’o, Brady Corbet, Jasmine Trinca, Ann Hui, Christian Petzold, Albert Serra, Oksana Zabuzhko, Kristen Stewart, Adam Sandler, Stephen Fry, Lena Dunham, Marvel’s Sebastian Stan, Martin Scorsese, Golden Bear, Isabelle Huppert, Hong Sang Organizations: BERLIN, Berlin, West Bank, Palestinian, Germany, Kenyan Locations: Ireland, Gaza, Germany, Israeli, American, Israel, Tehran, Berlin, Berlin’s, AfD’s Berlin, Mexican, Ukrainian, Czech, Poland, French, South Korean

☆ Kevin Kang’ethe: Suspect in killing of Boston nurse re-arrested after escaping from Kenyan police station
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Larry Madowo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Nairobi, Kenya CNN —A man accused of murdering his girlfriend in Boston before fleeing to Kenya has been re-arrested following his escape from a police station in Nairobi nearly a week ago, police said. Kevin Kinyanjui Kang’ethe, 42, was arrested on Tuesday at a relative’s house in Ngong, a suburb of the Kenyan capital, after a tip-off, Nairobi police chief Adamson Bungei told CNN. US investigators say he boarded a plane to Kenya shortly after killing his girlfriend on November 1, 2023. Officers released Kang’ethe from his cell and left them alone in an office, from which he then ran off. Following an application for extradition from the US, Kenyan authorities began the formal process to send him back to Boston to face murder charges.

Persons: Kenya CNN —, Kevin Kinyanjui Kang’ethe, Adamson Bungei, ” Bungei, Margaret “ Maggie ”, Bungei, ”, Kang’ethe Organizations: Kenya CNN, Kenyan, CNN, Boston Logan International Airport, US Locations: Nairobi, Kenya, Boston, Ngong, United States

☆ Kelvin Kiptum was targeting even more marathon history before his death aged 24
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Before his life was cut short at the age of 24 in a road accident, Kelvin Kiptum had been intent on achieving even more history in his brief but extraordinary marathon running career. Of the seven fastest marathon times in history, Kiptum owns three of them. “I offer my deepest condolences to his young family.”Kiptum stands next to a timer displaying his marathon world record in Chicago. He raced his first marathon in Valencia two days after his 23rd birthday and within the space of a year had become the world record holder. “I will get close to the sub-two barrier, so why not aim to break it?” Kiptum had said in November.

Persons: Kelvin Kiptum, Kiptum’s, ” Kiptum, Gervais Hakizimana, Sebastian Coe, John Walton, Kiptum, Eliud Kipchoge’s, Kipchoge, “, ” Kipchoge, Michael Reaves, Getty, Kiptum –, Hakizimana, ” Hakizimana, I’m Organizations: CNN, Rotterdam Marathon, Kiptum, London Marathon, World Athletics, AFP, Chicago Marathon, Toyota, Kenyan Locations: Valencia, London, Chicago, Kenya, Austrian, Vienna, Chepsamo, Chepkorio, Eldoret, West, Europe, Rwanda, Rotterdam

☆ Secretary Austin cancels Brussels trip for Ukraine, NATO meetings after hospitalization
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-12 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin canceled a trip to Brussels this week where he was set to attend meetings related to Ukraine's defense and NATO, after his emergency hospitalization over the weekend. Austin was taken to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Sunday afternoon due to "emergent bladder issues." The Defense secretary has been fighting prostate cancer and recuperating from surgery over the past few months. President Joe Biden is "not at all" concerned with Austin's ability to continue serving as Defense secretary, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Monday. Austin later transferred his duties to Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks on Sunday evening.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, Aden Duale, Donald Trump, Austin, Walter, Walter Reed doctors, Joe Biden, John Kirby, Kirby, Biden, Doctors, Kathleen Hicks Organizations: Defense, Kenyan Defense, Pentagon, NATO, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, National Security Locations: Arlington , Virginia, Brussels, Ukraine, Austin

☆ Marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum and coach killed in road accident in Kenya
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-12 | by ( Larry Madowo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Nairobi CNN —Current marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum and his coach Gervais Hakizimana died in a road accident Sunday night outside the Rift Valley town of Eldoret, Kenyan police confirmed. The 24-year-old Kenyan athlete, who was driving a Toyota Premio, and his coach died at the scene of the crash, Elgeyo Marakwet County Police Commander Peter Mulinge told CNN. Kiptum’s world record marathon time of 2:00:35 set in the Chicago Marathon in October last year was ratified just days ago by World Athletics. He had only switched to running the marathon from shorter distance races a year before setting that record pace. He improved his personal best time by 50 seconds to beat the 2:01:09 record set by fellow Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge, who is widely considered the greatest marathoner of all time.

Persons: Kelvin Kiptum, Gervais Hakizimana, Peter Mulinge, Mulinge, “, ” Mulinge, Kipchoge, Kiptum, Sebastian Coe, ”, ” Coe, Kelvin, Bob Verbeeck, ” Verbeeck Organizations: Nairobi CNN —, Kenyan, Toyota, Police, CNN, Chicago Marathon, World Athletics, Athletics, Management Locations: Nairobi, Eldoret, Marakwet, Rwanda, Chicago

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Marathon world record-holder Kelvin Kiptum died in a car crash in Kenya late Sunday, a fellow athlete who went to the hospital and saw the body said. Kiptum's coach was also killed in the crash, Kenyan runner Milcah Chemos said. Chemos said she was among a group of athletes who had gone to the hospital in Eldoret after hearing the news of the crash. Kiptum was the first man to run the marathon in under 2 hours, 1 minute. He set the new world record of 2:00.35 at the Chicago Marathon in October, beating the mark of fellow Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge.

Persons: Kelvin Kiptum, Milcah Chemos, Chemos, Kiptum Organizations: —, Kenyan, Chicago Marathon, Athletics Locations: NAIROBI, Kenya, Eldoret, africa

☆ A fugitive accused of killing his girlfriend in Boston has escaped from a jail in Kenya
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Larry Madowo | Faith Karimi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —A man accused of killing his girlfriend in Boston before fleeing to Kenya has escaped from a Nairobi jail, where he was awaiting extradition after his capture last week. He’s accused of killing his girlfriend, Maggie Mbitu, whose body was found in his SUV in a parking garage at Boston Logan International Airport on November 1, two days after she was reported missing. Within hours, authorities identified him as the Boston-area fugitive who US investigators said boarded a plane to Kenya shortly after killing his girlfriend. The day before her body was found, Kangethe boarded flights from Boston to Kenya. Surveillance footage showed him leaving the parking garage and entering an airport terminal, police said.

Persons: Kevin Kangethe, He’s, Maggie Mbitu, Kangethe, Ann Mbitu, Boston Kangethe, Mbitu, ” Organizations: CNN, Boston Logan International Airport, Massachusetts State Police, Police, Kenyan, Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport Locations: Boston, Kenya, Nairobi, United States, African, Massachusetts

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — A man awaiting extradition on a Massachusetts warrant alleging he killed his girlfriend and left her body in a car at a Boston airport escaped from police custody in Kenya, police said Thursday. Kevin Adam Kinyanjui Kangethe slipped out of the police station and jumped into one of the privately owned minivans that are the main transportation source in Kenya, Nairobi police chief Adamson Bungei said. Massachusetts State Police said in early November that Kangethe had left her body in a car at Logan International Airport and boarded a flight to Kenya. The court approved a police application for him to be detained for 30 days while the extradition issue was heard. On Feb. 2, prosecutor Vincent Monda asked the court to endorse the U.S. warrant for Kangethe's arrest and issue directions for the extradition proceedings.

Persons: Kevin Adam Kinyanjui Kangethe, Adamson Bungei, ”, Kangethe, Margaret Mbitu, Vincent Monda, Lucas Onyina, Mbitu, Masten Wanjala Organizations: Massachusetts State Police, Logan International Airport, Associated Press, Police Locations: NAIROBI, Kenya, Massachusetts, Boston, Nairobi, American, Halifax, Kangethe, Lowell, Bungoma

☆ Kenyan Cult Leader Is Charged in the Deaths of 191 Children
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Abdi Latif Dahir | More About Abdi Latif Dahir | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A doomsday cult leader whom the Kenyan authorities say ordered his congregants to starve themselves to death was charged on Tuesday, along with 29 others, with the murder of 191 children — in a case that has drawn global attention and brought widespread scrutiny over religious freedoms in the East African nation. The decision, by a court in the coastal town of Malindi, was handed down almost a month after a judge ordered that the cult leader, Paul Nthenge Mackenzie, and his co-accused undergo mental health evaluations before facing any charges. Mr. Mackenzie, a pastor, and the other accused pleaded not guilty and are scheduled to appear before a court in early March. Since last April, hundreds of bodies have been exhumed from the 800-acre Shakahola Forest, where Mr. Mackenzie and his followers lived, with many buried in shallow graves. Dozens of other followers have been rescued, and hundreds more are missing, according to local officials.

Persons: Paul Nthenge Mackenzie, Mackenzie Locations: East, Malindi

☆ Kenyan cult leader charged with murder of 191 children
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Bethlehem Feleke | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: 1 min

Nairobi, Kenya CNN —Kenyan Christian cult leader Paul Nthenge Mackenzie and 29 other suspects were charged with the murder of 191 children on Tuesday morning by the Malindi High Court. The children’s bodies were exhumed from Shakahola forest in eastern Kenya last year where Mackenzie and his associates are accused of running a death cult. Authorities exhumed over 400 bodies from the sprawling forest after months of search efforts. Mackenzie and the 29 others pleaded not guilty to the charges. One suspect was found mentally unfit to stand trial.

Persons: Paul Nthenge Mackenzie, Mackenzie Organizations: Kenya CNN — Kenyan Christian, Authorities Locations: Nairobi, Kenya

☆ Kenya Plans to Bypass Court Order in Haiti Deployment
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-04 | by ( Abdi Latif Dahir | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Kenya’s government will not await a court of appeal ruling before deploying its forces to Haiti, a senior government official said, further underscoring the government’s determination to move ahead with the proposed multinational force aimed at bringing stability to the gang-ravaged Caribbean nation. Abraham Korir Sing’Oei, the principal secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told The New York Times in an interview that Kenya and Haiti were working to finalize a bilateral agreement in the next two weeks and that, once in place, Kenyan forces would immediately deploy. The declaration from Mr. Sing’Oei comes just a week after the country’s High Court blocked the deployment of 1,000 police officers, saying it could go ahead only if there was a “reciprocal arrangement” detailing the framework under which Kenyan forces can operate in Haiti. Mr. Sing’Oei said the High Court provided a legal pathway for the deployment, namely the bilateral reciprocal arrangement with Haiti. But he said the government was appealing the decision to a higher court anyway to seek clarifications on some findings the government “finds problematic.”

Persons: Abraham Korir Sing’Oei, Sing’Oei, Kenya’s Organizations: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, New York Times, Kenyan Locations: Haiti, Caribbean, Kenya

At the center of that growth are newer genres of Afrobeats — the renowned blend of distinct West African music styles — and amapiano, which fuses South African kwaito with African jazz, house music and soulful vocals. The 2022 track became the first led by an African artist to hit 1 billion Spotify streams and has the record for the most weeks — 64 — spent on Billboard’s Pop Airplay chart. And some tracks meld the genres under the African music umbrella. That reach is particularly interesting considering that African music is produced for its people, embodying all aspects of their lives from their culture and experiences to their struggles, LeriQ says. The continent leads mobile device web traffic in the world, according to the U.S. International Trade Administration, translating to more market opportunities for artists.

Persons: ”, Burna Boy’s, Rema’s, Selena Gomez, —, Joey Akan, ‘, Burna, ’, Musa Keys, Boy, Istanbul's, Rema, Davido, Tina Davis, Olamide's, Angélique Kidjo, LeriQ, Nay, Mitego, Chika Anene, gatekeepers, Eric Wainaina, G’bemi Ereku, Nigeria —, Jhello, ” ___ Mureithi, Maria Sherman Organizations: FIFA, International Federation of, Phonographic Industry's, Spotify, Afrobeats Intelligence, UEFA Champions League, Pew Research, U.S . International Trade Administration, United, Afro Nation, AP Locations: ABUJA, Nigeria, Nigerian, Saharan Africa, African, South Africa, Africa, Tanzania, Abuja, Kenyan, Lagos, United States, Statista, Nairobi, Kenya, Johannesburg, Los Angeles

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