East Africa

Details: East Africa; 07 November 2023; 560

Floods in parts of Kenya. PHOTO/@KenyaRedCross/X

At least 15,264 households have been affected by ongoing heavy rains and floods, the Kenya Red Cross (KRC)has noted.

In a statement on Monday, November 6, 2023, KRC noted that at least 15 casualties had been reported and at least 1067 livestock deaths.

"Heavy rains with varying flood effects have been reported across the country. As of yesterday, 15,264 households have been affected, with 15 casualties reported and at least 1067 livestock deaths. 241 acres of agricultural farmland have been destroyed due to flash floods," KRC stated.

Frequent floods

According to the International Federation of Red Cross Africa (IFRC), the floods are becoming more severe, with an urgent to to take more precautions and put in more measures to mitigate the effects.

"Climate change is making floods more frequent and severe. There is an urgent need to invest in climate adaptation measures to protect communities from the devastating impacts of floods and other adverse weather conditions," IFRC stated.

State Department of Environment and Climate Change Principal Secretary Festus Ng'eno said that the department is currently facing liquidity challenges, the reason they have not achieved much in terms of putting up mitigation measures.

"It is worth noting that some of the planned targets for fiscal year 2023/2024 have not been achieved due to liquidity challenges currently being experienced by the State Department of Environment and Climate Change. Significant proportion of the Exchequers received so far have been in respect of compensation to employees and transfers to Semi-Autonomous Government Agencies (SAGAs) under the State Department." Ng'eno said.

In October, the Kenya Meteorological Department forecasted that the country will experience enhanced (above average) rainfall that will be well distributed in both time and space.

"During OND 2023, it is expected that most parts of the country will experience enhanced (above average) rainfall that will be well distributed in both time and space. The forecast indicates a high probability that some counties in the Northeastern region are likely to experience above-average rainfall," the Met Department's forecast read in part.

Kenya Met Department Director Dr David Gikungu. PHOTO/@MeteoKenya/X

On Wednesday, November 1, 2023, the weatherman issued a heavy rainfall advisory for four days, lasting until Sunday, November 5, 2023.

According to the weatherman, the heavy rainfall being experienced over the northeast, northwest and central highlands is expected to intensify and spread to Nairobi, the southeastern lowlands, the western sector and the coast.

The intensity is projected to reduce on Monday, November 6, 2023, over the southeastern lowlands and parts of the northeast.

"These rains are likely to be accompanied by gusty winds," the department said. By Francis Muli, People Daily

Details: East Africa; 07 November 2023; 565

NAIROBI, Kenya, November 7, 2023/APO Group

Principal Secretary for the State Department for Public Health and Professional Standards, Mary Muthoni, has emphasized the need for greater budget allocation to preventive and promotive health to drive Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

During her presentation to the Departmental Committee on Health, Ms. Muthoni underscored the importance of prevention, noting that every dollar invested in prevention can save nine dollars in curative healthcare.

The State Department comprises five directorates and 20 Semi Autonomous Government Agencies, each with specific missions and objectives

She acknowledged the Committee's role in aligning budget allocations with the State Department's preventive healthcare mandate.

Muthoni highlighted key focus areas under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) for the 2023/24 budget, including public health management, disease surveillance, preventive and promotive healthcare, health professions management, and strategic interventions for diseases such as malaria, TB, and nutrition services.

The State Department comprises five directorates and 20 Semi Autonomous Government Agencies, each with specific missions and objectives.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Kenya.

Details: East Africa; 07 November 2023; 496

Nigel Farage© GB News

Nigel Farage has accused the Government and the Metropolitan Police of being “gutless” by not banning the ‘Million Man March’ on November 11.

Speaking on GB News, he said: “The whole weekend is one of Remembrance and Armistice Day itself, the 11th, has recently taken on more significance and what has been planned by those that organised these marches is, well, to call that to call that insensitive would be an understatement.

“The vast majority of the British public do not think this march should go ahead on Armistice Day, and yet between the police and the government, nothing is getting done.

“Of course, Suella Braverman is very good at denouncing these marches as hate marches.

“But given we have the Public Order Act; it is not beyond the wit of man for the police and the government to actually show some courage and some leadership and to do what most of us think is the right and appropriate thing.

“And yet, I'm afraid, we're led by gutless people who are not prepared to do this and allow events to overtake us.

“Maybe that'll change between now and the end of the week, but right now, it is as if the police are saying to the Government, ‘you decide’ and the Government is saying to the police, ‘you decide’.

“The law, as it fairly clearly states, needs The Met to recommend the march should be stopped and for the Home Secretary to act.” By Oliver Trapnell, GB News

Details: East Africa; 07 November 2023; 527

The Central Bank of Kenya has intensified its efforts to combat illicit dollar trading, even as the shilling depreciated to a fresh all-time low against the US dollar.

On Monday CBK cautioned that unlicensed currency dealers are offering money or value transfer services in violation of its regulations.

"This is to inform members of the public that it is a criminal offence to provide money or value transfer services without a license or authorisation from the CBK."

"Such services do not enjoy the protection of the law and consumers stand to lose in case of any default by the providers of these services."

The CBK warning comes weeks after it imposed a cap on the amount of foreign exchange that forex bureaus can sell to customers, limiting it to a maximum of $100,000 (Sh15.1 million) per customer per day.

The cap by the CBK came at a time small and big businesses have turned to underground currency traders to fulfill their foreign exchange needs, The Standard has learned.

Illegal trades include buying or selling dollars without any record, and remittances through informal channels have been on the rise in recent weeks amid CBK strict monitoring of profiteers.

There has also been a rise in the popularity of the Hawala system, a traditional Somali method of money transfer that operates through a network of brokers known as hawalas, who facilitate money transfers for clients outside the conventional institutional framework.

Yesterday, CBK requested that individuals and organisations provide information regarding the identities and physical whereabouts of entities and individuals who are offering monetary or value services without proper licensing or authorisation from the CBK.

"This is to caution and, or warn members of the public against seeking money or value transfer services such as 'hawala' from unlicensed service providers."

"The CBK has a duty to identify entities and persons providing unlicensed or authorised money or value transfer services and to have them prosecuted in a court of law."

In the midst of the currency crisis in Kenya, the banking system is witnessing a surge in demand for US dollars.

Despite CBK’s strict penalties on forex market manipulation and a government-supported fuel import agreement, the local currency has continued to decline since the start of the year.

CBK Governor Kamau Thugge told the National Assembly Finance and National Planning Committee last week that the banking regulator has also written to 10 commercial banks seeking clarification on the significant disparity in their currency spreads despite the implementation of interbank market reforms.

The bid-ask spread (or the buy-sell spread) is the difference between the amount a dealer is willing to sell a currency for versus how much they will buy it for.

Dr Thugge said that CBK intends to going forward, “address any speculative activity on forex in the banking sector.”

According to CBK data, the Shilling reached a historic low Monday, exchanging at an average exchange rate of 151.1647 against the dollar. By Brian Ngugi, The Standard

Details: East Africa; 06 November 2023; 645

During the closing session of the World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) Global Summit in Kigali, Western Australia was announced as the host for 2024, marking the first time the event will visit Oceania.

The 24th Global Summit will be taking place in Perth in late 2024, in partnership with Tourism Western Australia.

WTTC closed its first ever Global Summit in Africa with more than 1,200 delegates attending the event in Kigali, Rwanda.

The global tourism body’s Global Summit saw speakers such as global economist and renowned business commentor Justin Urquhart-Stewart; Administrator of the United States Transport Security Administration, David P. Pekoske; and Chief Commercial Officer of Arsenal Football Club, Juliet Slot.

The most influential Travel & Tourism event in the calendar, WTTC’s Global Summit, was attended by more than 45 countries.

Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said: “The success of this year’s Global Summit in Kigali is testament to the power of Africa’s Travel & Tourism sector. Through Rwanda, the continent has well and truly put itself on the map.

“We are so excited to be heading ‘Down Under’ next year. Western Australia and the beautiful city of Perth have always been popular destinations and we’re sure attendees will enjoy a real taste of quintessential Australian hospitality."

Tourism WA Managing Director Carolyn Turnbull said hosting the 24th WTTC Global Summit presents a significant opportunity for WA to demonstrate its growth ambition and investment opportunities to WTTC’s members, which includes the CEOs of key travel businesses such as airlines, global hotel operators and investors, and cruise lines.

“The effect of hosting this event goes far beyond the immediate economic impact generated from delegate spend; this event will open avenues for conversation around inbound trade and product investments, new inbound aviation routes and the development of high value tourism product business opportunities.

“Business delegates attending this event will be encouraged to extend their stay and explore further afield, so they can experience our dreamlike landscapes, world-class experiences, and expert tourism operators firsthand.”

During its Global Summit in Kigali, WTTC launched its Africa report highlighting some of the challenges Travel & Tourism faces in the region and the opportunities to address them.

WTTC also launched its groundbreaking Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging report which tracks DEIB in the Travel & Tourism sector and highlights effective practices and recommendations for the future.

The Global Summit was moderated by Thami Nkadimeng who was recently selected as a 2023 Top 100 Most Influential People of African Descent under 40 in support of the United Nation's General Assembly resolution 68/237. Africa Business Communities

www.wttc.org