Author: NLM Correspondent

A new UN study has found that a lack of opportunity is the main motivation for many African migrants trying to reach Europe. “Scaling Fences” gathers the accounts of men and women who make the dangerous journey across the Mediterranean, which some in Europe believe is driven by extreme deprivation. “The perceived wisdom is that people come to Europe because of extreme deprivation,” explains Mohamed Yahya, the lead author of the report by the United Nations Development Programme. “Our data shows that many of them had jobs before they left, so the perceived wisdom of basic deprivation is not there.…

By Calvine Oredi The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) seems to have woken up from slumber and flexed its muscle in hotly pursuing tax evaders. The obvious trigger is the dry coffers at Treasury, compounded by the need to implement the Big 4 Development Agenda, as well as burgeoning public debt. The Government has faced questions on its huge appetite for heavy borrowing which has been an easy but less-than-ideal route to meet the big budget deficit and meet its obligations as outlined in its current budget. Already ministry’s, departments and agencies (MDAs) are reeling from the effects of the 50…

By Agencies Some 800,000 girls across Kenya will be protected against cervical cancer annually following the introduction of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine into the country’s routine immunisation programme, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Health Sicily Kariuki announced last month at a launch ceremony in Mombasa County. “Scaling up access to quality health services, particularly for women and girls, is a critical part of Kenya’s Big Four Action Plan,” said Sicily Kariuki. “Cervical cancer is the leading cause of female cancer deaths in Kenya. Working with partners like Gavi, UNICEF and WHO to introduce the HPV vaccine into our routine immunisation programme is…

By Prof John Harbeson With all the commentary about democratic backsliding, not only in Africa and other newer democracies but in my own country and elsewhere, it is clear to me that responsibility for this trend lies not just with practitioners in these countries but with others as well. It lies to some extent also with those who have borne major responsibility for promoting global democratisation movement over three decades, including my fellow academics and some in the NGO community as well as influential figures in policymaking communities. One problem has been that democracy, properly understood, has so many important…

It has been four months since the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) nominated 41 individuals for appointment as judges. Curiously, President Uhuru Kenyatta went quiet after the names were forwarded to him, prompting lawyer Adrian Kimotho to sue to compel the Head of State to make the appointments. President Uhuru Kenyatta has defended his decision not to gazette all the 41 judges, citing “adverse reports” on some of them. The President argues it would be irresponsible on his part to appoint the judges who enjoy security of tenure given the integrity concerns he is privy to and reveals he will ask…

When the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement—which has created the world’s largest free trade zone—was first expressed a couple of years ago, I admit I wondered if African leaders were fully committed to achieving this historical milestone. But the progress and enthusiasm around the agreement, as well as its potential to be transformational for all Africans, have eased my reservations. As noted by many experts, including Dr Landry Signé in a recent report on this subject, the AfCFTA has great potential: By 2030, Africa will have a combined consumer and business spending of $6.7 trillion, offering some of the…

By David Onjili We all love the underdog’s story; we root for them and want to see them cause upsets during the game. And they often do. For example, Leicester City won the Premier League in 2014, against all odds, in a one of the biggest upsets in the game, and, in 2018, Iceland qualified for the FIFA World Cup. Yet, nothing comes close to the Iraqi national team triumph of 2007 at the Asian Cup hosted in Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia. There is a story of exiled players, civil war, death threats, and one talismanic striker. A FOX…

BY Yasin Arkanuddin My abdomen clenched like a fist, my bladder tightened, and any need I had to relieve myself instantly disappeared. I wretched and recoiled in disgust as I reflexively ducked back out of the police prison cell toilets. I have grown up in boarding school and lived in the poor areas of Nairobi city without sewerage but nothing can prepare you to board in the stench generated by the mound of human faeces that was slowly decomposing two walls away from the office of the Officer in Charge of Station Kilimani Police Station. How did he survive here?…

Brace yourself, lovers of diet sodas and sugary drinks. It’s more bad news and yet another reason to consider ditching your favourite soft drink. A new study followed more than 450,000 people from 10 European countries for up to 19 years and found those who drank two or more glasses of any type of soda a day had a higher risk of dying from any cause of death than people who drank less than a glass each month. None of the people had cancer, diabetes, heart disease or stroke before their participation. The study, published in September in the journal…

By Agencies When you first start out in the creative industries, there is a lot of received wisdom. “This is how it works.” “That’s just the way it is.” But how true are these truisms? Success and burnout go hand in hand Ah, the creative brain. A wondrous, magical, mysterious thing. Always on the lookout for untapped observations or sparks of divine inspiration. Marinated in coffee, it doesn’t conform to the nine-to-five because being busy is what it’s best at. Sleep? Sleep is for the weak! That is, until it all comes crashing to a halt. Welcome to burnout. “I…