A goat herder from a remote area of western Kenya has told the BBC his discovery of a golden nugget has sparked a gold rush, overwhelming his small village over the last few weeks. When people found out that 33-year-old Manasse Lomachar had sold his three grams of gold for 36,000 Kenyan shillings ($280; £205) several weeks ago, he believes this led to the arrival of thousands of prospectors in Cheporor. And it is true that what last month was just bushland and rough grazing ground near the village is now scarred by pits, mounds of earth and makeshift mining…
Author: Special Correspondent
Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema has been re-elected for a second five-year term after securing a 60% share of the vote, the electoral commission has announced. Hichilema’s win was widely expected, with his closest challenger Brian Mundubile getting 38% of the votes cast. The remaining 12 candidates trailed far behind. The result came after a contested process, with 55-year-old Mundubile earlier claiming victory and alleging, without providing evidence, that there had been voting irregularities. It also followed the arrest of some leading opposition figures in a raid on Friday who the authorities accused of plotting an insurrection. Mundubile called the claim…
The Sports Journalists Association of Kenya (SJAK) has adopted a new constitution, replacing rules in place since 2014. Members approved the changes at Friday’s AGM in Nairobi, including term limits, revised roles for officials and new rules on elections, disputes and finances. The Sports Journalists Association of Kenya (SJAK) has adopted a new constitution tailor-made to strengthen governance, accountability and member protection. The document, prepared by a seven-member constitution review committee led by SJAK Treasurer Mukami Wambora, was ratified during the association’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Nairobi on Friday. The new constitution replaces the one that has been…
Security forces in Zambia have seized weapons and arrested 11 people, including senior opposition figures, allegedly involved in an insurrection plot, the government has said. The leading opposition candidate in last Thursday’s presidential election, Brian Mundubile, was also found at the scene of the raid in the capital, Lusaka, according to the country’s top civil servant Patrick Kangwa. Mundubile described Friday night’s raid as “an attempt on my life” adding that “colleagues were shot” in his presence. With results from more than half of the constituencies, he is trailing incumbent Hakainde Hichilema. Mundubile had earlier claimed victory and alleged there…
The Sports Journalists’ Association of Kenya (SJAK) belatedly marked World Sports Day, which falls on July 2, with the second edition of its Indoor Sports Day at Best Western Plus Meridian Hotel in Nairobi on Friday. The event, incepted last year at Goan Institute, is aimed at helping members of the sports media fraternity appreciate and understand the dynamics of indoor sports beyond football and athletics, which dominate headlines. SJAK President James Waindi said the indoor games were introduced to complement the association’s longstanding outdoor sports day and to promote all-round journalism. “Apart from our outdoor sports day program that…
President Donald Trump has confirmed that he secretly swapped planes as he left a Nato summit in Turkey last month due to a possible threat. “I go by Secret Service and the military. They wanted me to go in a different flight, different plane,” Trump told reporters. “I just have to do what they say.” The revelation comes after reports that Trump boarded Air Force One on 8 July in view of television cameras, before hiding in a catering truck to be transported to a military aircraft. The last-minute switch has raised questions about whether those left on the decoy…
A Syrian court has sentenced ousted dictator Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia, after convicting him of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity during the country’s civil war. Assad fled from Damascus to Moscow with his family after his regime was overthrown in December 2024, ending his family’s five-decade grip on power. In the same case, the court also sentenced to death Atef Najib, Assad’s cousin and the former head of political security in southern Syria’s Deraa province. He appeared inside a cage in the courtroom as the judge read out his sentence. Deraa is widely seen as the…
African countries have been urged to step up preparations for what could become one of the strongest El Nino events on record, as climate experts warn that heavy rains, floods, droughts and other extreme weather conditions could trigger widespread humanitarian and economic impacts across the continent from October. Meteorological and climate experts say forecasts point to a high likelihood of a strong El Nino developing later this year, prompting governments and regional institutions to accelerate disaster preparedness measures to reduce the risks posed by flooding, food insecurity, water shortages and disease outbreaks. According to the World Meteorological Organization, or WMO,…
Kenya’s Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has challenged African countries to fast-track their development agenda, saying the continent has the resources, talent and potential to attain first-world status if leaders focus on long-term investments instead of short-term political and economic gains. Speaking on behalf of President William Ruto at the Infra for Africa Forum and Africa50 General Shareholders Meeting in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Prof. Kindiki urged African nations to believe in their ability to drive sustainable growth through strategic infrastructure development. In his speech, Prof. Kindiki emphasized the need for African countries to invest in long-term visions that would guarantee…
The construction of the long-awaited Nithi River Bridge in Tharaka Nithi County has moved a step closer after the Ministry of Lands officially launched the land acquisition and compensation process for residents whose properties will be affected by the project. The exercise marks a key milestone in the implementation of the bridge, which is expected to improve transport, enhance road safety and stimulate economic growth in the region. The launch brought together national and county government officials, local administrators and residents as the government began implementing the project aimed at eliminating one of the country’s most dangerous road black spots.…
