East Africa

Kenyan Vice President William Ruto will represent his new United Democratic Alliance party in the August elections after his public split with President Uhuru Kenyatta who is backing another candidate. Ruto will compete with veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga, who has secured Kenyatta’s support. Kenyatta, who must stand down after …

Kenyan police on Monday said they have arrested Zachariah Nyaora Obdadia, the prime suspect in the sexual assault of a woman in the capital Nairobi. Police said they have arrested Mr Nyaora in the border town of Sirare, from where detectives said he was trying to cross into Tanzania. His …

The Ugandan President’s son, Lt. Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, arrived in Rwanda’s capital Kigali on Monday, making his visit the second trip to the neighboring country in less than two months. The Ugandan Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced his arrival in the Rwandan capital, Kigali. “Lt. Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Commander …

Kenyan authorities have announced the lifting of coronavirus restrictions and are now allowing people not to wear face masks in open places. The health ministry said mandatory quarantine and isolation of confirmed cases are also removed. The government however encouraged people attending events indoors to wear face masks and while …

Tanzania has launched a yellow fever vaccination campaign after the discovery the disease in neighbouring Kenya, the country’s health ministry announced. Authorities launched the vaccination campaign after about 15 people contracted the disease and three people died from it. Health Minister Ummy Mwalimu has directed provincial referral hospital officials to …

The Ugandan government is proposing a law that makes it criminal for individuals found spitting in public, a habit that is deemed to be dangerous to public health. The proposed Public Health (Amendment) Bill, if passed by Parliament, would impose a 12-month jail term or 150 currency points (Shs3m) penalty …

The US state department said it has banned Kenyan politician Mike Sonko, former governor of Nairobi and his family from travelling to the US over allegations of corruption while in office. Mr Sonko was the governor of Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, but was impeached in December 2020. He was accused of …

The son of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni – Lt Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba – has announced his retirement from the army. “After 28 years of service in my glorious military, the greatest military in the world, I am happy to announce my retirement,” he posted on Twitter. After 28 years of …

The American vaccine manufacturer Moderna announced on Monday the construction of its first African vaccine factory in Kenya, after signing a preliminary agreement with this country which provides for the production of 500 million doses per year. The company plans to invest $500 million in this factory, which will produce …

Kenyan health authorities on Sunday declared a yellow fever outbreak after the death of three people and the detection of 15 other suspected cases in the northern county of Isiolo. The health ministry said it had dispatched a rapid response team to the area and others in a bid to …