Author: NLM Correspondent

African commodities exporters with large exposure to China are likely to be hit hardest but the impacts elsewhere could be less disruptive. By Harry Clynch Reacting to news that China’s economy has fallen into deflation, American President Joe Biden last week declared the country to be “a ticking time bomb” under the global economic and security apparatus. Pointing to Beijing’s weak growth figures, high levels of unemployment, and ageing workforce, Biden said that “China is in trouble.” Figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics of China (NBS) showed that the consumer price index, the country’s main gauge of inflation, fell by…

By Kimberly Fenn There is no denying the importance of sleep. Everyone feels better after a good night of sleep, and lack of sleep can have profoundly negative effects on both the body and the brain. So what can be done to substitute for a lack of sleep? Put another way, how can you get less sleep and still perform at your peak? As a psychologist who studies the ways in which sleep benefits memory, I’m also interested in how sleep deprivation harms memory and cognition. After some initial research on sleep deprivation and false confessions, my students at Michigan State University’s Sleep and Learning…

By Silas Apollo The Kenyatta family has for decades been at the centre of Kenya’s politics, either managing the country’s governance structure directly or indirectly influencing decisions in many areas. The family, regarded as one of the richest in the country and the region – with business interests cutting across various sectors of the economy, has held considerable sway and say, dictating how things are run and sometimes managed. And in the last couple of months since the election of President William Ruto and the defeat of Azimio leader Raila Odinga, a candidate fronted by former President Uhuru Kenyatta, the…

By Arshin Adib-Moghaddam Bad data does not only produce bad outcomes. It can also help to suppress sections of society, for instance vulnerable women and minorities. This is the argument of my new book on the relationship between various forms of racism and sexism and artificial intelligence (AI). The problem is acute. Algorithms generally need to be exposed to data – often taken from the internet – in order to improve at whatever they do, such as screening job applications, or underwriting mortgages. But the training data often contains many of the biases that exist in the real world. For example, algorithms could…

By Mumbi Mutoko A petitioner, Professor Fred Ogola, under the banner of Operation Linda Ugatuzi, has petitioned to halt government borrowing until a comprehensive audit of the country’s debt is conducted. The petition hinges on a series of weighty constitutional concerns that warrant meticulous consideration by the court. As the High Court deliberates on the petition, let’s step back and consider its merits. Prof Ogola’s petition, seen by the Nairobi Law Monthly, argues that the government’s borrowing practices fly against constitutional integrity. Central to the petition’s foundation are amendments to section 50 (97) of the Public Finance Management Act no.18 of…

Kenyan startups led African funding in H1 2023 with $520 million, followed by Egypt, South Africa, and Rwanda. Nigerian startups, fifth in funding, topped the continent with 101 deals; Kenya, South Africa, Ghana, and Egypt followed. African startup funding fell to $1B in H1 2023, causing investors to shift focus from growth-stage startups to late and early-stage ones. Startups in Kenya have received more equity funding from investors in Africa in the first half of 2023, as per data released by Briter Bridges. The top four countries highlighted in the report are Kenya ($520 million), Egypt ($510 million), South Africa…

Angered by cabinet secretaries’ summary sense of self-importance, members of parliament have begun holding CS to a strict code that one only hopes can last. President William Ruto’s Cabinet Secretaries are facing mounting scrutiny from within the ruling Kenya Kwanza Alliance. In an unexpected turn of events, government-allied legislators are emerging as the vanguards of accountability as the opposition feigns apathy. This unexpected criticism from within the government’s own ranks is the cause of some internal friction within the ruling coalition, but which may turn out to be good for Kenyans overall. The hope from Kenyans is that the echo…

Industrialist Jaswant Rai has withdrawn all cases at the Appeals Court that have obstructed the lease of Mumias Sugar Company (MSC) for years. This comes mere days after Rai’s reported abduction by unidentified individuals.  The case withdrawals, which have been at the heart of the revival of the once-mighty sugar miller, coincide with President William Ruto’s recent warnings of action against those allegedly exploiting cane farmers in the Western Region. Rai’s West Kenya Sugar formally submitted three withdrawal notices at the Court of Appeal to terminate the ongoing petitions that challenge the awarding of Mumias Sugar to the Sarrai Group,…

President William Ruto’s administration is pushing forward an all-encompassing Universal Health Coverage (UHC) legislative agenda. State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohammed announced that the Cabinet had given the green light to four bills touted to usher in a transformative era for healthcare in the country. Titled the Primary Healthcare Bill, Social Health Insurance Bill, Digital Health Bill, and the Facility Improvement Financing Bill, these legislative pieces collectively aim to reshape the healthcare landscape by fostering comprehensive accessibility, financial inclusion, technological integration, and dedicated funding. The Primary Healthcare Bill, 2023 One of the cornerstones of President Ruto’s UHC vision was elevating community…

Embakasi East MP had been charged with misusing his firearm in the shooting of DJ Evolve. Embakasi East MP Babu Owino was Tuesday, August 29, 2023 acquitted on the charge of misuse of a firearm in the shooting of DJ Evolve. The acquittal came after a two-year legal battle, during which the court noted that the prosecution had failed to provide sufficient evidence to prove that Babu Owino had shot DJ Evolve. In his ruling, Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate Bernard Ochoi said that the prosecution had failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt. He said that the prosecution…