The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) has responded to critics of Saturday night power outage in several parts of the country that affected operations at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), Nairobi.

Their response came hours after Kenya Power company confirmed that there was a blackout in several parts of the country.

In a statement shared on its official social media page, KAA says there are plans to avert such situations in future.

The airport regulator says in the next 30 days, JKIA will have a power backup system. 

"At approximately 8 PM today, JKIA experienced a disruption in power supply due to an outage from the national grid. The airport's backup generators were activated, with full restoration of power occurring within 8–20 minutes," KAA statement reads in part.

"The synchronization of the outstanding backup power supply is scheduled to be completed in the next 30 days in readiness for instant backup support in the event of any power interruption."

The authority has apologised to its clientele and stakeholders for any inconveniences caused by the short power outage.  Videos of the power outage at the airport emerged online Saturday night, prompting a reaction from Kenyans online, who blamed the state for negligence.

"Just the other day, CS Murkomen lied about solving the JKIA power backups. Today there was total darkness at an international airport bringing unnecessary shame and embarrassment..... incompetence screams so loud in this country, an X (formerly Twitter) user, Agnes Momanyi said. 

Nairobi, Nakuru, Eldoret, Kiambu, Kakamega, Mombasa, Kilifi, and Voi were some of the regions affected by the blackout. Netizens began reporting power outage minutes after 7.00 pm on Saturday, November 11.

“We have lost power supply to parts of the country. Our engineers are working to restore supply to the affected areas,” Kenya Power said in a statement. By Winfrey Owino, The Standard

Afghanistan, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of Congo , Sudan, Yemen, Pakistan, Myanmar, Ukraine, Syria, and South Sudan were listed as the top 10 countries in need of humanitarian aid. PHOTO: AA

KARACHI:

Sindh Chief Minister Justice (retd) Maqbool Baqar, in the wake of outbreak of Congo virus in Balochistan, has directed the Sindh health and livestock departments to take precautionary measures in the bordering districts.

Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a widespread disease caused by a tick-borne virus (Nairovirus) of the Bunyaviridae family. The ticks infect livestock and then the disease is transmitted to people. Bawar said that reports of Congo virus outbreak in Balochistan hasraised concerns for the districts including Dadu, Shahdadkot, Kashmore, and Jacobabad being in close proximity to Balochistan, face potential risks due to frequent cross-border movements. 

Read Karachi sets up Congo unit to deal with virus

Baqar said that the main transmission routes of the Congo virus include ticks from livestock and close contact with infected animals and humans. He directed the provincial health and livestock departments to intensify surveillance, particularly in the districts and tehsils close to Balochistan.

The CM also directed the administrations of both the departments to launch public awareness campaigns about preventive measures, including the use of insect repellents and protective clothing, besides monitoring of livestock markets, especially in border areas. Baqar insisted on close coordination between the health, livestock and other concerned departments of both the provinces to prevent the spread of the virus.

The CM said that the hospitals should be equipped with necessary diagnostic tools and treatment arrangements for the Congo virus-affected patients. Published in The Express Tribune, November 11^th, 2023.

Relatives of Palestinians, died in the Israeli airstrikes, mourn as they take the body from the morgue of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital for the funeral ceremony in Deir Al-Balah, Gaza on November 11, 2023. ( Ashraf Amra - Anadolu Agency )

JOHANNESBURG

South Africa has summoned the Israeli Ambassador to Pretoria Eliav Belotsercovsky in connection with his recent alleged conduct relating to the ongoing, tragic Israel-Palestine war.

Belotsercovsky is accused of making disparaging remarks about those who speak out against attacks on Palestinians.

“Ambassador Belotsercovsky is called upon to conduct himself in line with the Vienna Conventions, which accord heads of diplomatic missions certain privileges and responsibilities, key amongst which is to recognize the sovereign decisions of the host nation,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement issued on Friday evening.

Belotsercovsky met with Foreign Ministry Director General Zane Dangor, who expressed South Africa's grave concern over Israeli airstrikes and ground attacks on Gaza, which have killed over 10,000 civilians, including over 4,300 children.

Dangor told Belotsercovsky that South Africa wants the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate Israeli leaders for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.

The official also reiterated South Africa’s position, saying the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can only be solved by ending the occupation and beginning immediate talks towards a just and lasting peace for Palestinians and Israelis.

South Africa also called for an immediate comprehensive cease-fire, the opening of humanitarian corridors, and the release of all civilian hostages.

Last week, South Africa withdrew its entire diplomatic staff from Tel Aviv for consultation on Israel’s war on Gaza.

While announcing the government's decision to withdraw diplomatic staff, Minister in Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni told reporters, "Genocide under the watch of the international community cannot be tolerated. Another Holocaust in human history is not acceptable."

South African citizens have held over a dozen protests since the Israel-Palestine armed conflict began on Oct. 7. Rights activists were calling for the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador from Pretoria as well as the recalling of the country’s diplomats from Tel Aviv. Anadolu Agency

Uganda is upset that it was kept in the dark about the negotiations around the government-to-government fuel deal between Kenya and two Gulf nations. PHOTO | NMG

The Kenyan High Court will in the next few weeks determine if Kenya should go ahead and grant user rights to Uganda for the Kenyan oil pipeline, potentially solving or worsening the ongoing tiff between Nairobi and Kampala over fuel imports.

Trade and diplomatic relations between the two capitals have chilled over the past year, putting into question the state of the initial “bromance” between Ugandan veteran leader Yoweri Museveni and Kenya’s William Ruto.

Read more here   By The East African