Acting Inspector General of Police Gilbert Masengeli. [Edward Kiplimo, Standard]
The National Police Service (NPS) reassured the public of safety and security, stating that officers across the country remain on alert. On Saturday, September 14, the NPS said on X: “The National Police Service would like to take this opportunity to reassure members of the public of their safety and security and reaffirm that NPS officers deployed across the country remain alert to protect our country.”
The announcement followed a security warning from the U.S. embassy in Kenya on Friday, September 13, urging American citizens to stay vigilant and avoid overcrowded places including places of worship, malls, hotels and restaurants.
"While attacks can occur at any time, concerns are heightened in proximity to anniversaries of prior terrorist attacks, such as September 11, the September 21 Westgate Mall attack and the October 7 Hamas attack against Israel," the U.S. embassy said.
Americans were advised to keep a low profile, avoid protest areas and stay alert in locations frequented by foreigners and tourists. The UK embassy in Kenya also issued a travel advisory, recommending only essential travel.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advised British citizens to avoid travel within 60 kilometres of Kenya's border with Somalia, including Mandera and Lamu counties except for Lamu and Manda islands and Tana River County.
"There have been frequent attacks in the north Eastern border regions, most of which were attributed to al-Shabab. Attacks have killed members of the Kenyan security forces as well as civilians. Armed militia groups operate within the Boni National Reserve and along the border with Somalia," said FCDO. By David Njaaga, The Standard
Salva Kiir has been president of South Sudan since independence in 2011- Getty Images
The government of South Sudan is holding an emergency cabinet meeting hours after it announced that long-delayed national elections would be postponed by two years.
The polls were due to take place this December. A 2018 peace deal that ended a civil war allowed president Salva Kiir to remain in charge of a transitional government with his former foe Riek Machar serving as his deputy.
South Sudan, the world's youngest country, has not held national elections since independence in 2011. The decision to postpone the vote by another two years has not come as a great surprise.
The political leaders of South Sudan have not exactly been racing to get ready for a vote. This has fuelled suspicion that they are clinging onto power in the oil-rich country.
President Salva Kiir's office says essential tasks like writing a new constitution have to happen before an election. Officials have also cited logistical and security challenges, which could not be overcome by the end of the year.
Those in charge are the same leaders who plunged the country into a five-year civil war. Given the current relative peace and the fact that neighbouring Sudan is being destroyed by conflict, South Sudan's politicians may not come under much international pressure. By Will Ross, BBC
File photo of Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun. /CFP
Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun on Saturday called for continuous efforts to enhance defence and security cooperation and inject more positive energy into regional peace and stability.
Dong made the remarks while meeting separately with Fijian Minister for Home Affairs and Immigration Pio Tikoduadua and Stergomena Lawrence Tax, Tanzania's minister of defence and national service.
The two guests are in Beijing to attend the 11th Beijing Xiangshan Forum, which opened on Friday.
China-Fiji relations have withstood the test of vicissitudes and continued to move forward, setting a prime example of cooperation between China and South Pacific Island countries, Dong noted, adding that for China and Tanzania, relations between the two countries and the two militaries have been working hand in hand to create a model for China-Africa security cooperation.
He called for adhering to the important consensus reached by the leaders and continuously improving the quality and effectiveness of defense and security cooperation.
Tikoduadua said the Fijian side thanks China's assistance for Fiji's economic development, improvement of people's livelihoods, and military construction and speaks highly of China's vital role in global and regional affairs.
Fiji will firmly adhere to the one-China principle and continue to enhance exchanges and cooperation with China, Tikoduadua said.
Tax said Tanzania is willing to work with China to continue to enhance practical cooperation in areas such as joint exercises and training and deepen the traditional friendship based on mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit so as to better benefit the two countries and their peoples. (With input from Xinhua)
The first Cabinet Lekgotla of the Government of National Unity taking place at Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guest House in Pretoria, July 15
President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his confidence in the resilience of the Government of National Unity (GNU).
He was speaking during his conversation with several journalists and editors at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on a wide range of issues.
Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube’s non-attendance at the signing of the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill necessitated a question on whether the GNU is stable and if it will see its full term.
The President said although disagreements in the GNU of ten parties are expected, the pact has brought confidence to South Africans.
He said a move away from the GNU will be too ghastly to imagine.
“I would like to say that the GNU is durable and those who may well want to pronounce that we could leave if this does not work is wishful thinking. So in a way, it’s like the people of South Africa have determined and forced us to work together.
So any participants in the GNU that would say we are leaving they are actually leaving the people of South Africa, they are going into the wilderness because a departure from the GNU is really going into the desert now; that is why I said any alternative is just too ghastly to contemplate.” By Ntebo Mokobo, SABC
A winning school from Turkana County perform a Turkana Folk Song at the 96th edition of the annual Kenya Music Festival in Eldoret. [File, Standard]
Kenya’s vibrant and diverse cultural landscape has become an integral part of everyday life. The Kenya Music Festival, for instance, is one of the country's largest and most influential cultural phenomena. It is an annual extravaganza that brings together thousands of participants from schools and communities nationwide.
But it is more than just a showcase of talent; it's a dynamic platform where creativity, learning, and ideas converge. Amid the drumbeats and the dances, it is fertile ground to introduce and teach essential financial concepts by leveraging the power of culture to inspire and educate in a way that resonates deeply with the Kenyan spirit.
Even so, the Kenyan financial services sector is at a crucial crossroads, where weaving financial literacy into the everyday lives of our people is not just an honourable pursuit but a vital necessity for sustainable growth.
As our economy advances, the call to equip Kenyans with the knowledge to navigate their financial journeys grows louder.
By embedding these lessons into our cultural pillars like the Kenya Music Festival, we’re not only seizing an opportunity but also crafting a uniquely Kenyan path to prosperity.
Here, where the rhythms of our heritage meet the realities of modern life, we have the power to strengthen the economic future of every mwananchi.
This is exactly what we at Jubilee Life Insurance sought to bring to life during the recent 96th Kenya Music Festival extravaganza held in Eldoret last month.
In a dynamic partnership with the Kenya Music Festival, Jubilee infused the event with essential financial principles like saving, investing, and understanding insurance, as part of our strategic focus on empowering Kenyans through financial literacy.
We aimed to transform financial literacy from a mere concept into a vibrant, relatable, and impactful experience that resonates deeply with every Kenyan, ensuring that these lessons are not just learned, but lived.
However, government support is essential in scaling these efforts.
The Kenyan government, on its part, has shown a solid commitment to promoting financial literacy through various initiatives, such as the National Financial Education Strategy 2020-2024. Yet, for these initiatives to truly take root and flourish, collaboration with private players, educators, and cultural institutions is vital.
With Kenya's gross domestic product projected to grow by 5.5 per cent in 2024, and youth unemployment rates still hovering around 13.7 per cent, the urgency of equipping our young people with financial knowledge cannot be overstated.
Partnerships between financial institutions and the Ministry of Education could be a game-changer. Picture financial literacy modules being introduced in schools, taught not just through textbooks but through the rhythms of our music, the movements of our dance, and the stories in our drama.
It’s about making learning come alive in a way that’s uniquely Kenyan, ensuring that financial wisdom is passed down through generations, not as a dry obligation, but as a vibrant part of our culture.
This approach is especially crucial in Kenya, where the uptake of insurance remains worryingly low at 2.4 per cent as of 2023, according to the Insurance Regulatory Authority.
Moreover, by demystifying insurance and financial services through culturally relevant platforms, we can break down the barriers of misunderstanding and suspicion that often keep people from embracing these vital services. As sector players, it is our responsibility to take bold steps toward enhancing financial literacy among the younger generation. - The writer is the CEO of Jubilee Life Insurance, The Standard
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