Archive for July, 2008
Insecurity Heightens Poverty in Northwest Kenya
Photo: Ann Weru/IRIN
Residents often have to rely on police reservists and have organised local security to safeguard their livestock
LODWAR, 29 July 2008 (IRIN) – John Lochimoe used to own several heads of cattle that his grandfather left him, until raiders from the neighbouring Pokot District of northwestern Kenya took the animals.
“All the cows [...]
Kiambaa IDPs Still Afraid to Return Home
Photo: Julius Mwelu/IRIN
Stephen Kariuki Gichuhi, chairman of the IDPs who have sought shelter at the Ngecha All Nations Gospel Church in Limuru
LIMURU, 30 July 2008 (IRIN) – Hundreds of internally displaced persons (IDPs) who fled Kenya’s Rift Valley Province after their church was set ablaze in January’s post-election violence, burning to death some of [...]
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )The Connection Between High Food Prices and Grand Corruption
Bunge La Mwananchi held a forum on Wednesday 2nd July, 2008 at Professional Centre Nairobi, between 1.00 pm and 5.00 pm. as part of its civil awareness initiative to rally people around issues that affect them. Bunge La Mwananchi had in the recent past organised an activity in which Kenyans held street protest to complain [...]
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( 2 so far )Investigate “torture” in Mt Elgon Operation, Kenya Govt Urged
Photo: Ann Weru/IRIN
People displaced by the conflict in Mt Elgon are slowly returning home. HRW says the government must investigate claims of torture
NAIROBI, 28 July 2008 (IRIN) – A public inquiry should be set up into “torture and war crimes” committed by the Sabaot Land Defence Forces (SLDF) militia and the military in [...]
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Cholera Outbreaks in W. Kenya Blamed on Contaminated Water
Photo: Julius Mwelu/IRIN
Drinking contaminated water is one of the main causes of cholera
NAIROBI, 29 July 2008 (IRIN) – Recurrent outbreaks of cholera in the western province of Nyanza are caused by widespread water contamination, including seepage from latrines, health officials said.
“The major contributor to the recent outbreaks in the area was unsafe water,” [...]
More Education Equals Less Teen Pregnancy and HIV
Photo: Julius Mwelu/IRIN
Girls who stay in school are less likely to contract HIV
NAIROBI, 25 July 2008 (PlusNews) – Keeping Kenyan girls in school and ensuring they have access to HIV and sex education has a dramatic effect on lowering future levels of HIV, according to experts.
“Young people do not have the information they [...]
PMTCT Services not Reaching Rural Women in Kenya
Photo: Manoocher Deghati/IRIN
Many of the women are unaware of their status
ISIOLO, 24 July 2008 (PlusNews) – The government’s campaign to prevent HIV transmission from mother to child is failing pregnant HIV-positive women in Kenya’s remote rural areas.
A shortage of testing sites and trained medical staff in rural areas means many of these women [...]
No Substitute for Support When Taking ARVs
Photo: Waweru Mugo/IRIN
“They know where the shoe pinches most”
MERU, 16 July 2008 (PlusNews) – “We [people living with HIV] must eat well, must keep off stress – it is not good for you … if you can, please walk out on anything annoying and go and watch Vitimbi [a popular TV sitcom] or [...]
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Q&A: How Not to Resettle IDPs
Interview with Prisca Kamungi, Director of the Internal Displacement Policy and Advocacy Centre
NAIROBI, Jul 22 (IPS) – Operation Rudi Nyumbani (Return Home, in Kiswahili), designed to help about 350,000 IDPs living in camps across the country go back to their homes and farms has achieved its primary objective, at least according to the Kenyan government. [...]
Hundreds Still Displaced in Nairobi
Photo: Allan Gichigi/IRIN
IDPs at the Mathare Chief’s camp in Nairobi.
NAIROBI, 22 July 2008 (IRIN) – Hundreds of Kenyans displaced during post-election violence in early 2008 in the capital, Nairobi, are still in camps more than two months after the government launched a countrywide resettlement programme.
“Many of the displaced were tenants whose houses [...]
Mau Forest Destruction Will Cost the Kenya Economy US$300M
Protecting Mau Forest in Kenya’s Economic Interest
Nairobi, 17 July 2008-Kenya stands to lose a nature-based economic asset worth over US $300 million alone to the tea, tourism and energy sectors if the forest of the Mau Complex continues to be degraded and destroyed, the UN Environment Programme said today.
The Prime Minister of Kenya, Raila [...]
Tackling Corruption in Humanitarian Intervention
Photo: Anthony Morland/IRIN
Bribe taking: A new report urges humanitarian agencies to work harder and more closely together to minimise various forms of corruption that can affect the delivery of emergency aid
NAIROBI, 18 July 2008 (IRIN) – Humanitarian agencies should work harder and more closely together to minimise various forms of corruption that can [...]
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Healthcare Hurdles in Nairobi’s Slums
Photo: Manoocher Deghati/IRIN
Slums are underserved in terms of access to basic amenities
NAIROBI, 11 July 2008 (IRIN) – Quality healthcare is a luxury often beyond the reach of those who live in Nairobi’s slums, such as mother-of-seven Grace Awour Opondo.
“When you are sick you buy medicine from the local shops,” Opondo told IRIN. “If [...]
Post-Violence Sex Work Boom in Kenya
Photo: Eva-Lotta Jansson/IRIN
Desperation limits your options
MOMBASA, 9 July 2008 (PlusNews) – Like thousands of other Kenyans, Susan Wairimu, 17, was displaced from her home in the Rift Valley Province’s Molo district during the violence that followed a disputed presidential election in December 2007 and sought shelter in the nearby town of Nakuru.
A cousin [...]
Courting Disaster: Why Kenyans Must Stop Oloolua Nuclear Waste Plant
Kenya is a few days away from hosting the first ever dreaded and less understood radioactive waste processing facility at Oloolua, located at the institute of primate research in Kajiado district. If the facility is allowed to proceed, Kenyans will without doubt pay dearly, in the same way history is certain to harshly judge the [...]
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