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☆ Amazon Web Services to open development centre in Kenya
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A logo for Amazon Web Services (AWS) is displayed at the Collision conference in Toronto, Ontario, Canada June 23, 2022. REUTERS/Chris Helgren/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNAIROBI, Oct 4 (Reuters) - Amazon Web Services (AWS), the company's cloud-computing division, said on Wednesday it would open a development centre in Kenya's capital Nairobi, creating jobs in software development, cloud support, and software engineering. Sometimes dubbed the "Silicon Savannah", Kenya is one of Africa's biggest technology hubs, hosting offices of some of the world's tech giants alongside thriving startups. "This centre will enable the local market to tap into an incredible pool of technical talent," said Uwem Ukpong, vice president of global services at AWS. "The Kenyan technology sector continues to be a source of growth and job creation at a time when there is so much uncertainty in the world," said Kenya's President William Ruto.

Persons: Chris Helgren, Uwem Ukpong, William Ruto, Hereward Holland, Aurora Ellis Organizations: Amazon Web Services, REUTERS, Rights, Web Services, Netflix, General Electric, Sony, Thomson Locations: Toronto , Ontario, Canada, Rights NAIROBI, Kenya's, Nairobi, Kenya, Kenyan

☆ Kenya President reshuffles cabinet, swaps foreign affairs minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Kenya's President William Ruto attends the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Summit at United Nations headquarters in New York City, New York, U.S., September 18, 2023. REUTERS/Caitlin Ochs/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNAIROBI, Oct 4 (Reuters) - Kenya's President William Ruto on Wednesday reshuffled eight members of his cabinet, and folded the foreign affairs ministry into the office of the chief minister. The changes were necessary, Ruto said, to "optimise performance and enhance delivery as set out in the administration's manifesto". Foreign minister Alfred Mutua was transferred to the ministry of tourism and wildlife, while trade minister Moses Kiarie Kuria was moved to the ministry of public service. The foreign ministry was brought under the portfolio of the prime cabinet secretary Musalia Mudavadi.

Persons: William Ruto, Caitlin Ochs, Ruto, Alfred Mutua, Moses Kiarie Kuria, Musalia Mudavadi, Mutua, Hereward Organizations: Sustainable, United Nations, REUTERS, Rights, Thomson Locations: New York City , New York, U.S, Rights NAIROBI, Haiti, Caribbean

CNN —Concerns over Kenya’s human rights record have cast a shadow over a UN decision that gave Kenya the go ahead to lead an armed multinational force to Haiti amid brutal gang violence in the Caribbean country. For a year, the multinational force, comprising 1,000 Kenya police personnel is expected to combat criminal gangs responsible for a wave of killings, kidnappings and rape in Haiti. But human rights groups argue that Kenya’s history of human rights abuses must be evaluated. On Tuesday, Amnesty International Kenya urged UN member states, human rights organizations and citizens to thoroughly examine the “human rights and humanitarian implications” of deploying an armed multinational force to Haiti. What stake does Kenya have to be able to take those chances in a terrain that is foreign and dangerous?

Persons: Alfred Mutua, William Ruto, Ruto, “, ”, ” Ruto, Herman Manyora, Ruto’s, ” Manyora, Manyora Organizations: CNN, UN, Kenya, Amnesty International Kenya, Kenya National Civil Society Center, Kenya Police Service, Citizen Digital, Kenyan, UNSC, United Nations General Assembly, Union, Biden, US, University of Nairobi Locations: Kenya, Haiti, Caribbean, East, ”, African, Nairobi

☆ UN approves Haiti security mission to fight gangs
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

UNITED NATIONS, Oct 3 (Reuters) - The United Nations Security Council on Monday authorized a foreign security mission to Haiti, a year after the Caribbean country asked for help to fight violent gangs that have largely overrun its capital Port-au-Prince. The Security Council also expanded a U.N. arms embargo to include all gangs - a measure China wanted. The response to Haiti's request for help was delayed due to a struggle to find a country willing to lead a security assistance mission. The Security Council stressed an "urgent need" for Haiti to make progress toward "transparent, inclusive, and credible electoral processes and free and fair elections." The security assistance mission, while approved by the U.N. Security Council, is not a United Nations operation.

Persons: Jean Victor Geneus, Jeffrey DeLaurentis, Zhang Jun, Alfred Mutua, William Ruto, Ruto, Ariel Henry, Linda Thomas, Greenfield, Jean, Bertrand Aristide, Michelle Nichols, Sarah Morland, George Obulutsa, Cynthia Osterman, Andrew Heavens, Alison Williams Organizations: UNITED NATIONS, United Nations Security, Security, Foreign Affairs, Kenyan, U.S, Security Council, . Security, United, Peacekeeping, Monday, Thomson Locations: Haiti, Caribbean, Port, United States, Ecuador, China, Russia, U.S, Kenya, Bahamas, Jamaica, Antigua, Barbuda, East, United Nations, Caracas, Nairobi

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — If you listen to the African leaders addressing the U.N. General Assembly this year, the message is emphatic and unanimous: The continent is done being a victim of a post-World War II order. It is a global power in itself and must be partnered with — not sidelined. There’s also a new boldness that comes with the African Union’s G20 seat. With the largest bloc of countries at the United Nations, it is understandable that African leaders increasingly demand a bigger voice in multilateral institutions, said Murithi Mutiga, program director for Africa at the Crisis Group. As African leaders spoke glowingly about the continent as a force on the global stage, some at home said the leaders must begin by delivering the dividends of democracy to their people.

Persons: —, There’s, William Ruto, Nana Akufo, Addo, Africa’s, Cyril Ramaphosa of, ”, Bola Tinubu, Tinubu, Murithi Mutiga, Rashid Abdi, Horn of, ” Abdi, Felix, Antoine Tshisekedi, Filipe Nyusi, Nyusi, Ibrahim Mayaki, Mayaki, Grace Agbu, Mamadi Doumbouya Organizations: General Assembly, Kenyan, United Nations, Crisis, African Development Bank, Gulf, Slave Trade, SEAT, Economic Cooperation, Development, Democratic, Africa Center, ” Locations: ABUJA, Nigeria, Africa, Russia, Ukraine, Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, Horn of Africa, Nairobi, Europe, United States, Paris, Democratic Republic of, Congo, New York, Nigeria’s, Abuja, “, ”

Speaking at a meeting in New York to address the security situation in Haiti, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the mission, led by Kenya, could deploy "within months." Haiti last year asked for help to combat violent gangs that have largely overrun the capital Port-au-Prince. The council could vote as soon as next week, diplomats said, on a U.S.-drafted resolution supporting a multinational police deployment. While not providing any troops, Blinken said the Biden administration will work with the U.S. Congress to provide $100 million to back the multinational mission with logistical and financial assistance. Washington supports Kenya's vision for a three-part security mission that includes helping Haitian police, ensuring security for static installations and thoroughfares and strengthening law enforcement in the long term, Blinken said.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Ariel Henry, Diaspora Affairs Alfred Nganga Mutua, Blinken, Biden, William Ruto, Henry, Antonio Guterres, Humeyra Pamuk, Michelle Nichols, Howard Goller, Grant McCool Organizations: Haitian, Kenyan, Foreign, Diaspora Affairs, . Security Council, U.S, Congress, Washington, General, Security, Thomson Locations: Haiti, United States, Caribbean, New York, U.S, Kenya, Haitian

☆ At UN, Kenya's president asks world not to leave Haiti behind
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Kenya's President William Samoei Ruto addresses the 78th Session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York City, U.S., September 21, 2023. The council could vote as soon as next week, diplomats said, on a U.S.-drafted resolution supporting a multinational police deployment. Haiti last year asked for help to combat violent gangs that have largely overrun the capital Port-au-Prince. "As we mobilize to show up for Ukraine, and countries that have experienced the devastating impact of climate shocks including Libya, Morocco and Hawaii, we must not leave Haiti behind," Ruto said. U.N. peacekeepers were deployed to Haiti in 2004 after a rebellion led to the ouster and exile of then-President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

Persons: William Samoei Ruto, Brendan McDermid, William Ruto, Ruto, U.N, Antonio Guterres, Guterres, Ariel Henry, Jean, Bertrand Aristide, Michelle Nichols, Grant McCool Organizations: General Assembly, REUTERS, UNITED NATIONS, Kenyan, United Nations Security, General, Peacekeeping, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Haiti, Kenya, Caribbean, Ukraine, Libya, Morocco, Hawaii, Bahamas, Jamaica, Antigua, Barbuda, Americas

☆ At UN, Kenya's President Asks World Not to Leave Haiti Behind
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Michelle NicholsUNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Kenyan President William Ruto urged the United Nations Security Council on Thursday to formally back a security support mission to Haiti, which Kenya has shown a willingness to lead, saying the Caribbean country "deserves better from the world." The council could vote as soon as next week, diplomats said, on a U.S.-drafted resolution supporting a multinational police deployment. Haiti last year asked for help to combat violent gangs that have largely overrun the capital Port-au-Prince. "As we mobilize to show up for Ukraine, and countries that have experienced the devastating impact of climate shocks including Libya, Morocco and Hawaii, we must not leave Haiti behind," Ruto said. U.N. peacekeepers were deployed to Haiti in 2004 after a rebellion led to the ouster and exile of then-President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

Persons: Michelle Nichols UNITED, William Ruto, Ruto, U.N, Antonio Guterres, Guterres, Ariel Henry, Jean, Bertrand Aristide, Michelle Nichols, Grant McCool Organizations: Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS, Reuters, Kenyan, United Nations Security, General, Peacekeeping Locations: Haiti, Kenya, Caribbean, U.S, Ukraine, Libya, Morocco, Hawaii, Bahamas, Jamaica, Antigua, Barbuda, Americas

"The move from fossil fuels to renewables is happening – but we are decades behind," Guterres said at the start of the one-day summit. "We must make up time lost to foot-dragging, arm-twisting and the naked greed of entrenched interests raking in billions from fossil fuels." Those not invited to speak were the world's two top polluters - the United States and China – though U.S. Special Envoy on Climate Change John Kerry was in the audience. "This climate crisis is a fossil fuel crisis," he said, drawing applause from the heads of state and others in the room. "Climate change is a top priority for my administration," Thavisin told the gathering, his country having recently created a climate change ministry.

Persons: Antonio Guterres, Mike Segar, Guterres, John Kerry, China's U.N, William Ruto, Ruto, Gavin Newsom, Srettha Thavisin, Thavisin, Sultan Ahmed al, Jaber, COP28, Mia Mottley, Ursula von der Leyen, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Valerie Volcovici, Katy Daigle, Howard Goller Organizations: United Nations, General Assembly, REUTERS, Companies Allianz, General, United Arab Emirates, Thailand's, FINANCE, Security Council, Allianz, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Fund, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, COP28, Dubai, Brazil, Canada, Pakistan, South Africa, Tuvalu, United States, China, California, UAE, Barbados, Ukraine

☆ IMF, World Bank to decide Monday on October meetings in earthquake-hit Morocco
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Andrea Shalal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Questions have swirled over whether the IMF and World Bank would still hold their annual meetings in Morocco's tourist hub of Marrakech since a devastating, 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck in the High Atlas Mountains, killing more than 2,900 people. Marrakech, 45 miles (72 km) from the quake's epicenter, suffered some damage in its ancient Medina quarter, but Moroccan officials have pressed the IMF and World Bank to proceed with the gathering, which would bring some 10,000-15,000 to the city. "The Moroccan authorities are fully committed to the meetings," Georgieva said in her first public comments on the matter since the disaster. In describing discussions with Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch, Georgieva expressed concern that the IMF and World Bank "don't want to be a burden" to the country as it deals with recovery efforts. Morocco also has access to a $5 billion flexible creditline from the IMF, approved in April, that is aimed at strengthening the countries' crisis prevention capabilities.

Persons: Kristalina Georgieva, William Ruto, Emmanuel Macron, Janet Yellen, Ajay Banga, Georgieva, Aziz Akhannouch, Andrea Shalal, David Lawder, Chris Reese, Diane Craft Organizations: International Monetary Fund, Treasury, World Bank, New Global Financial, Monetary Fund, Bank, Reuters, IMF, Sustainability Trust, Moroccan, World, IMF's, Thomson Locations: Kenya, U.S, Paris, WASHINGTON, Morocco, Marrakech, Medina

☆ Africa Climate Summit: Billions pledged to green projects but leaders warn of need ‘to act with urgency’
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Jacopo Prisco | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —The inaugural Africa Climate Summit drew to a close on Wednesday, with the host, Kenya’s president William Ruto, saying that a total of $23 billion had been pledged to green projects by governments, investors, development banks and philanthropists. Among the most eye-catching finance announcements, the United Arab Emirates pledged $4.5 billion to clean energy initiatives in Africa. “It is our ambition that this will launch a new transformative partnership to jumpstart a pipeline of bankable clean energy projects in this important continent,” Al-Jaber said, adding that the investment could lead to the generation of 15 gigawatts of clean energy by 2030. At the Africa Climate Summit, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres noted that the continent was responsible for less than four per cent of global carbon emissions. LUIS TATO/AFP/AFP via Getty ImagesGermany announced 450 million euros (about $481 million) of climate finance pledges, and and the US pledged $30 million to support climate resilient food security efforts across Africa.

Persons: William Ruto, Sultan Al, Jaber, ” Al, Yemi Osinbajo, ”, General Antonio Guterres, LUIS TATO, “, Osinbajo, greening Organizations: CNN, Africa Climate Summit, United Arab Emirates, COP28, Global Energy Alliance for People, UN, Getty Images Locations: Africa, Nairobi, Dubai, “, jumpstart, Nigeria, AFP, Copenhagen

☆ Africa’s Vast Solar and Mineral Resources at Risk of Being Left Untapped, IEA Warns
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Will Horner | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +6 min

Energy investment in Africa needs to more than double by the end of the decade if the continent is to meet its energy and climate goals. “Energy investment on our continent has fallen short,” wrote William Ruto, president of Kenya, in the report’s foreword. Photo: Lucien Kahozi/Bloomberg NewsAll of these are pushing up the cost of capital which makes many African energy projects financially unviable despite ample local resources and proven technologies such as wind or solar power, the report said. PREVIEWCurrently, 600 million people across Africa lack access to electricity and almost one billion have no access to clean cooking fuels. African nations are seeking redress for the effects of climate change they experience despite contributing little to carbon emissions, the main driver of global warming.

Persons: ”, Fatih Birol, simon maina, William Ruto, Lucien Kahozi, Will Horner, william.horner@wsj.com Organizations: International Energy Agency, African Development Bank, IEA, Agence France, West, “ Energy, Democratic, Bloomberg, Sustainable Business, Africa Climate Locations: Africa, Paris, ” Africa, China, Kenya, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ukraine, Nairobi

Renewable energy is more reliable but its promise for the region still remains largely unmet. Most households have depended on gasoline generators for power, but recently the government removed a gasoline subsidy, prompting increased interest in solar power, according to dealers. The Nigerian government has not announced incentives to promote solar energy, such as reducing import taxes on solar equipment as demanded by dealers. “The problem was affordability, but now customers can pay installments over a period of 18 months,” said Tunde Oladipupo, an agent for Sun King, a solar power company. Another example of this shift is the Ford vehicle assembly plant in Silverton, Pretoria, which currently sources over 35% of its electricity from solar power.

Persons: Rashmi Shah, ”, William Ruto, Tunde Oladipupo, Sun King, Monsurat Qadri, ” Qadri, ” Mohammed Ettu, Shah, ” Shah, ___ Adebayo, Magome Organizations: Climate Summit, World Bank, CP Solar’s, Associated Press, Kenyan, Solutions, Ford, South, CP, Kenya Power, Lighting Company, Supersport, AP Locations: NAIROBI, Mombasa, Nairobi, Kisii County, Kenya, Africa, Nigeria, Oyo, Lagos, Saharan Africa, South Africa, Stillwater, American, Silverton , Pretoria, Mpumalanga, Kenya —, Abuja, Johannesburg

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Climate change is “relentlessly eating away” at Africa’s economic progress and it’s time to have a global conversation about a carbon tax on polluters, Kenya’s president declared Tuesday as the first Africa Climate Summit got underway. He and other leaders urged reforms to the global financial structures that have left African nations paying about five times more to borrow money than others, worsening the debt crisis for many. Africa has more than 30 of the world’s most indebted countries, Kenya’s Cabinet secretary for the environment, Soipan Tuya, said. Africa’s GDP should be revalued for its assets, which include the world's second-largest rainforest and biodiversity, African Development Bank President Akinwumi Adesina said. “It is an African story, and I daresay it’s a global story, too.”___Follow AP’s coverage of the climate at https://apnews.com/climate-and-environment and of Africa at https://apnews.com/hub/africa

Persons: William Ruto, Tuya, John Kerry, Kerry, Joe Biden, ” Ruto, ”, Ruto, “ It’s, Sahle, Zewde, Akinwumi Adesina, Adesina, Martha Lusweti, Antonio Guterres, Ursula Von der Leyen, lullabies, Sierra, Julius Maada Organizations: Africa Climate Summit, European Union, Kenyan, United, United Arab Emirates, Development Bank, ”, International Monetary Fund Locations: NAIROBI, Kenya, Africa, China, United States, U.S, United Arab, United Nations, Europe, U.N, Africa's, Nigeria's Niger Delta, Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, Congo, africa

☆ 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

☆ Africa Climate Summit: Electric motorcycle startup Spiro expands into Kenya
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( Nell Lewis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Spiro, a startup looking to eliminate fuel-guzzling motorbikes and scooters from the roads by trading them in for electric two-wheelers, is expanding to Kenya. Ahead of the first Africa Climate Summit, which kicked off in Kenya’s capital Nairobi today, the host government announced on Friday that the e-bike and battery-swapping startup would be entering the East African country with its biggest deployment yet: 1.2 million electric vehicles. In Kenya, they will be offered 50,000 Kenyan shillings (about $344) – around a third of the price of a new electric bike – to swap their existing bike for an electric one. Last week, US company Uber also launched an electric motorbike service in Kenya, promising to roll out 3,000 bikes within six months. “We’re surpassing the symbolic but significant milestone of one million electric bikes signed with a government,” says Samain.

Persons: CNN — Spiro, Jules Samain –, polluters, Samain, Spiro, CLEMENT, CLEMENT DI ROMA, ”, ” Spiro, William Ruto, Ampersand, Uber Organizations: CNN, Africa Climate, CLEMENT DI, AFP, Getty, FIA Foundation, Spiro, McKinsey Locations: Kenya, Africa, Kenya’s, Nairobi, West, Benin, Togo, Rwanda, Uganda, China, Mombasa, Saharan Africa, Swedish, Kenyan, East

☆ Factbox: Developing countries in the grip of debt problems
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

In June, it clinched a $6.3 billion debt rework deal with the "Paris Club" creditor nations and its other big bilateral lender China. Another part of the domestic debt plan has faced delays, though, with a key deadline on a Treasury bond exchange delayed three times and now set for Sept. 11. Failure to complete the domestic debt overhaul by then could result in delays both in terms of IMF disbursements and talks with creditors. The government recently agreed to tackle roughly $4 billion of its domestic debt via a pension fund debt swap operation and a dollar-denominated bonds exchange. Cairo has a $3 billion IMF programme and has devalued the pound by roughly 50% since February 2022.

Persons: Adnan Abidi, Nandalal Weerasinghe, Kais Saied, Nayib Bukele, William Ruto's, Donald Trump, Libby George, Marc Jones, Mark Potter Organizations: REUTERS, China, SRI, SRI LANKA Sri, Sri Lanka Development, Sri, Monetary Fund, IMF, UAE, Observers, European Union, SALVADOR, World Bank, African Development Bank, Presidential, Republican, Thomson Locations: New Delhi, India, Delhi, ZAMBIA Zambia, SRI LANKA, SRI LANKA Sri Lanka, China, GHANA Ghana, Zambia, Ghana, PAKISTAN Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, TUNISIA, North, Tunisia, EGYPT Egypt, Cairo, Salvador, KENYA, Kenya, UKRAINE Ukraine, Ukraine, Russia, LEBANON Lebanon

☆ 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

CNN —A summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and African leaders began in St. Petersburg on Thursday, with a far lower turnout than previous years. Just 17 heads of African states are attending this year, the Kremlin has confirmed, less than half of the 43 heads of state that attended the 2019 conference. And some African politicians – further than simply not attending the summit – have expressed grave concerns about Russia’s war of aggression on Ukraine. Putin makes free grain pledgeThe African states being represented at the St. Petersburg summit will be keen to sway Russia into rejoining the grain deal, and Putin has courted African leaders for years in a deliberate effort to broaden Moscow’s global influence. Russia’s Wagner mercenaries have also been deployed in some African states.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, William Ruto, –, “, ”, Raila Odinga, ” Odinga, Putin, Russia’s Wagner, ” Putin, Sergei Lavrov, Cyril Ramaphosa’s, Maria Lvova Organizations: CNN, Kremlin, Kenyan, Putin, Russian, ”, Criminal Court, ICC Locations: St . Petersburg, United States, Moscow, Africa, Russia, Ukraine, St, Petersburg, Russian, Johannesburg, South Africa, Rome, Hague

☆ Kenya's opposition holds vigils for slain and injured protesters
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Opposition leader Raila Odinga has repeatedly called for acts of civil disobedience against a government he accuses of raising the cost of living and consolidating power. Police killed 37 people during the protests, Kenyan rights group Independent Medico-Legal Unit said earlier this week, while Azimio claims at least 50 people were slain. The interior ministry said on Wednesday claims that security forces committed extrajudicial killings or used excessive force were false and malicious. On Wednesday Odinga, Musyoka and other opposition figures visited injured protesters at two hospitals in the capital Nairobi. Ruto has said he also would not allow Odinga into his government, but was open to meeting him.

Persons: Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka, Azimio, Musyoka, Odinga, William Ruto's, Ruto, Jefferson Kahinju, Humphrey Malalo, George Obulutsa, Hereward, Emelia Sithole, Bernadette Baum Organizations: Kenya Alliance, Kenyans, . Police, Kenyan, Independent Medico, Legal Unit, Wednesday Odinga, Twitter, Thomson Locations: Nairobi, Kenya, Read, NAIROBI, Unity, Hereward Holland

CNN —A wave of deadly protests has hit Kenya as anger over tax hikes and the cost of living spilled into the streets. Brian Inganga/APHowever, 10 months after being sworn into office, the cost of living has continued to rise, and the raft of new tax hikes have only made living conditions worse. But many Kenyans are unhappy about these policies that continue to worsen the country’s cost of living crisis. There’s a very high cost of living, and they already have many levies and taxes on their pay slips. The opposition leader Raila Odinga and his Azimio la Umoja (One Kenya) coalition have led calls for protests over hikes.

Persons: WIlliam Ruto, Here’s what’s, Herman Manyora, Ruto, Brian Inganga, he’s, ” Manyora, ”, Nagudi, “, Raila Odinga, Odinga, Opiyo Wandayi, lobs, Thomas Mukoya, Moses Odhiambo Organizations: CNN, UN, Veteran, AP, Kenyan, CNN . Riot, Reuters, Kenya Locations: Kenya, Nairobi, Mathare, COVID, Mlolongo, Machakos county

At least 300 people were arrested, including several senior opposition leaders, and several people were reported shot, some possibly fatally, in clashes with police on Wednesday. The demonstrations, planned for Wednesday to Friday, are the third round of protests that the opposition has called this month. Protests this year have cost the economy more than $20 million per day, according to a private sector lobby group. Veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga did not make a public appearance on Wednesday or Thursday as he did during previous protests. A Kenyan court froze the tax hikes late last month, pending a ruling by senior judges.

Persons: Raila Odinga, Ruto, Odinga, William Ruto, Paul Ongili, Aaron Ross, George Obulutsa, Humphrey Malalo, Monicah Mwangi, Anne Mawathe, Joseph Akwiri, Alexander Winning, Emelia, Bernadette Baum, Mike Harrison, Conor Humphries Organizations: Kenya Alliance, REUTERS, NAIROBI, La, NTV Kenya, Kenyan, Civic, Thomson Locations: Nairobi, Kenya, Kibera, Mombasa, Kisumu, Isiolo, Ruto's

☆ Kenya Stares Into ‘Abyss’ as Soaring Prices and Feuding Leaders Bring Chaos
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Declan Walsh | More About Declan Walsh | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Kenya’s boisterous news outlets are normally fierce rivals. “Let’s save our country,” read an identical banner headline across the front pages of the Daily Nation, Standard and other major papers. Kenya risks tumbling into “a dark and dangerous abyss,” the joint article said, if its leaders fail to resolve a boiling crisis that has destabilized one of Africa’s strongest democracies. Police clashed with demonstrators in Nairobi on Thursday in the second of three days of planned nationwide protests against soaring food and fuel prices and steep tax hikes. The police, sometimes firing live rounds, killed at least six people in clashes on Wednesday and detained about 300, including a prominent opposition politician who was whisked away to a police station 60 miles from the capital.

Persons: William Ruto, “ Organizations: Daily Nation Locations: Kenya, Nairobi

☆ Protesters hurl rocks at Kenyan police as three-day tax protest begins
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] A person rides a bike past tyres set on fire by protestors in Kibera slum during an anti-government protest against the imposition of tax hikes by the government in Nairobi, Kenya July 19, 2023. REUTERS/Monicah Mwangi/File PhotoNAIROBI, July 19 (Reuters) - Around 100 protesters hurled rocks at police in a poor neighbourhood of Nairobi on Wednesday as three days of demonstrations against the cost of living and tax hikes kicked off in Kenya. Protesters burned tires in the Kibera neighbourhood, often a flashpoint for stand-offs with security forces, and were met with volleys of tear gas by police. The Nation newspaper reported that police arrested suspected protesters in Homa Bay in the west of the country. Two rounds of protests earlier this month descended into violence when police fired tear gas, and in some cases live rounds, at the crowds.

Persons: Monicah, William Ruto, Raila Odinga, Stephen Kipchumba Cheboi, Odinga, Ruto, Hereward Holland, Stephen Coates, Angus MacSwan Organizations: REUTERS, Protesters, State House, The Nation, Governmental Organisation Council, Kenya, Thomson Locations: Nairobi, Kenya, NAIROBI, Kibera, Homa Bay, Azmio

☆ Kenya's Ruto says further tax-hike protests will not be allowed
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NAIROBI, July 14 (Reuters) - Kenyan President William Ruto vowed on Friday that protests planned next week would not be allowed following two rounds of demonstrations that have left at least 15 people dead. Opposition leader Raila Odinga's party called earlier in the day for three more days of protests from next Wednesday against tax hikes that Ruto signed into law last month. You cannot look for the leadership of this country using the blood of the citizens, the death of the citizens and the destruction of property," Ruto said at the opening of a road in the town of Naivasha. Kenya's President William Ruto attends a joint press conference with Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi at the State House in Nairobi, Kenya, July 12, 2023. The most recent demonstrations took place despite bans by the police, and Ruto did not say how he planned to stop the upcoming protests.

Persons: William Ruto, Raila, Ruto, Odinga, Ebrahim Raisi, Jeremy Laurence, Humphrey Malalo, Thomas Mukoya, Hereward Holland, Aaron Ross, Alex Richardson Organizations: Kenyan, Iran's, State, West Asia News Agency, REUTERS, Human Rights, Thomson Locations: NAIROBI, Naivasha, Nairobi, Kenya

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