The Princess of Asturias Awards are the highest form of recognition bestowed by the Spanish Crown and among the most prestigious in the European Union The international not-for-profit medical research and development organization, Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi), will be awarded the 2023 Princess of Asturias Award for International Cooperation on October 20 in Oviedo, Spain. Recipients of the award, which has been running for 43 years, are distinguished individuals or organisations in the arts, social sciences, communication and humanity, concord, international cooperation, scientific and technical research, sport, and literature. Winners in other categories 2023 include Kenyan marathoner Eliud…
Author: Guest Writer
By Melaku Desta The establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has been hailed, rightly, as having the potential to very considerably alter the continent’s fortunes for the better. A good deal of this conviction is based on the AfCFTA’s principal mandate which is to forge regional value chains (RVCs). Likewise, just as the AfCFTA fosters the establishment and consolidation of RVCs, so do strong RVCs provide the web of interconnected cogs and springs that keep the AfCFTA going deeper and further. The AfCFTA and RVCs are mutually reinforcing factors in the pursuit of Africa’s integration and development…
The government has waived Sh117 billion owed to it by state-owned sugar millers in preapration fo rleasing them out to private entrepreneurs. In the Monday meeting at State Lodge Kisumu, President William Ruto announced the resolution of both Houses of Parliament on the reforms to turn around of the sugar sector. Additionally, the National Treasury is working on waiving tax penalties and interest within 30 days. Plans for the payment of farmers’ arrears and employees’ salary arrears will also be unveiled within three months. The sugar companies owe the money in banks loans, tax arrears and penalties, farmers and employees’…
By Ouma Ojango Six distinct but sequential aspects of President Ruto’s one year in office have influenced the profound backlash his government is currently braving. It all began with the formation of the Cabinet. The choices of the President raised eyebrows of many, more so of his supporters, whose expectations were high. From most of the nominees, it was outright that the President was bent on rewarding cronies rather than delivering on his campaign promises to the people. Meritocracy counted for nothing. From the President’s list of preferred candidates to Parliament for vetting, it was difficult for anyone, however optimistic,…
Decision paves the way for countries such as Kenya to send their armed personnel to the Caribbean country to help Haitian authorities combat runaway gang violence The UN Security Council on Monday night endorsed the deployment of the Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission to Haiti, paving the way for countries such as Kenya to send their pledged armed personnel to the Caribbean country. The resolution, 2699/23, was endorsed by 13 of the 15-member Council, including Africa’s representatives; Mozambique, Ghana and Gabon and now authorises the deployment of a Mission that had raised controversy on its legality in Kenya. The Council…
President William Ruto says bilateral agreements signed with over twelve countries for semi-skilled, skilled and professional jobs will reduce unemployment in the country. The head of state said that Kenyan workers are sought after in foreign markets owing to their diligence and as such the agreements will open up an array of opportunities for more Kenyans to work abroad. “We have signed agreements with close to twelve countries. The German president was here and indicated that his country needs 200,000 workers, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia needs 500,00 workers,” the head of state indicated. He further disclosed that…
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) will today vote on a resolution that would authorize a year-long deployment of an international force led by Kenyan Police to Haiti to quell a surge in gang violence. The US-drafted resolution welcomed Kenya’s offer to lead the multinational security force and stated that this would be a non-UN force funded by voluntary contributions. The resolution would authorize the force for one year, with a review after nine months. It would be allowed to provide operational support to Haiti’s National Police, which is underfunded and under resourced, with only some 10,000 active officers for a…
At least a dozen nations have said they will join the effort to help Haiti tackle the unchecked gang violence engulfing the country, pending a UN Security Council resolution authorizing a foreign intervention led by Kenya. The United States and Kenya have struck a defense pact that will provide Kenya with funding and support for security deployments following Kenya’s voluntary offer to lead an international mission to violent Haiti, Al Jazeera reports. The agreement, which will govern the nations’ defense cooperation for the next five years, was signed on Monday, September 25, during a meeting in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, by…
Unlike previous arrangements, the dialogue committee’s legal mandate could pave the way to political and economic stability. By Guyo Chepe Turi A 29 July agreement between Kenya’s President William Ruto and main opposition leader Raila Odinga ended months of street protests against tax hikes and the cost of living, many of which were met with heavy-handed policing. The deal sets the stage for a negotiated settlement, but each side has demands that could still collapse the talks. How these pressures are managed will be a major test for both leaders. Kenya’s political stability has long been tied to elections. Results of the…
In the first half of 2023 Africa had the highest percentage of ICS computers on which spyware was blocked (9.8%) Malicious objects of all types were detected and blocked on 34% of Industrial Control System (ICS) computers in the first half of 2023, according to the ICS CERT landscape report by Kaspersky. In Africa over this period attacks were detected on 40,3% of ICS computers, placing it in first place among the other regions. The top industries under attack were energy (45,9%), engineering & integration (44%) and building automation (40%). All these attacks were blocked after detection. ICS computers are…