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Less than one in ten people are fully vaccinated against coronavirus in Kenya. A Kenyan government directive that residents must show proof of COVID-19 vaccination by 21 December to access services was welcomed by some businesses on Monday but criticized by others, who said low vaccination rates made it unrealistic.

Only 8.8% of people are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in Kenya so far. Health Minister Mutahi Kagwe made the announcement on Sunday. Public services affected include schools, transport services, immigration and other state offices, and hotels, bars, restaurants, national parks and wildlife reserves. 

The government will start a 10-day mass vaccination campaign on Friday, Kagwe said. Directives about vaccines have split public opinion globally. Some politicians and citizens say measures infringe on personal choice and others say they protect the public.

Carol Kariuki, chief executive of the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), which claims more than half a million members, told Reuters the group encouraged all Kenyans to get inoculated.

“This is not only good for business continuity and the economy but also to protect others,” she said.

But some local business owners said the directive were not practical.

“Who is going to implement it?” said Franklin Odhiambo, a restaurant owner in Nairobi. “Some of us may want to be compliant, others may not. So, it will create some unfair competition.”

The edict comes just a month after the government lifted a curfew in place since March 2020.

Rights group Amnesty International said Kenya would not be able to vaccinate the majority of its population by the deadline, so many people might be unable to earn a living, access transport or go to school. 

Irungu Houghton, executive director of Amnesty International’s Kenya office, said the government directive was unrealistic and flawed.

“These regulations will deprive millions of people of their ability to earn a livelihood, to have access to security, health and transportation services back and forth from home to work or school,” he told Reuters. 

“That’s not how we will win the war against COVID-19,” he said, calling on the government to work harder to address vaccine hesitancy. 

“It turns what the WHO (World Health Organization) would argue is an important voluntary exercise into a coercive exercise.” 

Shoe-shiner Winnie Buong agreed.

“They ought to have done a more aggressive vaccination campaign before lifting the lockdown,” Buong said. “I don’t understand why they want to make our lives more difficult.”

Though low compared to Western nations, Kenya’s rate of fully vaccinated citizens is higher than the African average of under 5%. The WHO says Africa lags in COVID-19 vaccination rates due to global inequities in vaccine supplies, not because Africans do not want to be vaccinated.

Kenya has reported about 255,000 coronavirus infections and 5,300 coronavirus-related deaths, according to a Reuters tracker. By Maggie Fick, Reuters

 

Jacob Kiplimo shaves one second off world half-marathon record with time of 57 minutes and 31 seconds 

KAMPALA, Uganda

Uganda's Jacob Kiplimo set a new world half-marathon record Sunday at the EDP Lisbon Half Marathon, triggering celebrations in the capital Kampala.

“Kiplimo has won the Lisbon Half Marathon that took place today in Portugal. We are proud of our golden boy,” said Uganda’s sports officer in Kampala, Gerald Kafuluma.

Kafuluma said Kiplimo also shaved one second off the world half-marathon record with a time of 57 minutes and 31 seconds. The previous world record was set in 2020 by Kenya’s Kibiwott Kandie in Valencia, Spain.

Ugandans in Kampala who were watching the marathon on television went wild when he won and celebrated his victory with shouting and dancing, including at restaurants and clubs.

“At least Kiplimo’s win makes us forget about the poverty which is biting us due to the effects of COVID-19,” said one of his fans, Ken Kyambadde, a shopkeeper in Kampala.

Kiplimo recently clinched a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics in the men’s 10,000 meters race. Among his other achievements are a silver medal in the World Cross Country Championships in Aarhus, Denmark in 2019 and a silver medal in men’s cross country world title in 2017. By Godfrey Olukya, Anadolu Agency

ANC's Musalia Mudavadi, Wiper's Kalonzo Musyoka, KANU's Gideon Moi and Ford Kenya's Moses Wetang'ula. Image: ONE ALLIANCE KENYA

One Kenya Alliance (OKA) testerday denied allegations that it was being ‘hunted’ by other political alliances ahead of next year’s General Election. The Alliance term ed as far-fetched media reports that it was keen to work with either ODM leader Raila Odinga or Deputy President William Ruto.


There have been reports that Raila and Ruto were keen to woo the four principals of OKA to form a formidable team for the elections. 

But speaking at St Mark's AIPCA during a church service in Kinamba Naivasha, Nakuru county yesterday, OKA principals: Musalia Mudavadi (Amani National Congress), Wiper’s Kalonzo Musyoka, Moses Wetangula (Ford Kenya) and Gideon Moi (Kanu) maintained that they were united and ready to support one of their own in the elections.


Kalonzo said that they had not been approached by any leaders as alleged. He accused some media houses of being used by politicians to peddle lies and weaken the alliance, which is yet to name its presidential flag bearer

“No one is hunting us so that we can join them, but the truth is that we are the ones who want them to join us,” he said.


Kalonzo at the same time questioned a recent opinion poll results that placed Ruto and Raila as the leading contenders, terming them as questionable.


“These polls are sponsored by the same politicians who want to lie to the country that they are leading,” he said.


The former vice president observed that if elected to power, OKA would ensure education is free from nursery to university.  

“The ongoing politicking is worrying and is causing panic, am on
investors,” he said.


In a veiled attack targeted at ODM Raila Odinga chief and Deputy President William Ruto, Mudavadi urged Kenyans not to allow ills that were perpetuated by white colonialists to creep back through the black colonialists, presenting themselves as saviours.


“Our freedom fighters fought hard to free us from the colonialists’chains of slavery, poverty, lies, corruption, intimidation and many more ills. We should not accept to be taken back to the same chains by black colonialists, presenting themselves as saints, promising to revive an economy they have looted to the core,” he said.


Mudavadi called on Kenyans not to be hoodwinked by politics of lies and intimidation and instead be steadfast in calling leaders to account and elect men and women of integrity.


“I urge Kenyans of goodwill not to accept politics of lies and intimidation. I seek your support and together, we shall end corruption, build a vibrant economy, create jobs and put a smile on every Kenyan face,” the former Deputy Prime Minister said.


Mudavadi noted that reviving the economy will be achieved through creation of job opportunities and lowering the high taxes. On his part, Kalonzo urged the church to be open to politics and work together for a prosperous and peaceful country.


He argued that politicians should not be frowned at in church platforms for they have a shared mission as long as both play their part respectfully meant to instil ideals of a great country. “OKA leaders are an open page.

We come to church to worship and interact with fellow. Kenyans, talk matters of building our country positively and not spew hate. That is our civic duty and together with the church, we should be a one thing,” he said.


Kanu chairman Gideon Moi called on Kenyan s to be wary of leaders who are not genuine. Without naming names, he termed as questionable the behaviour and conduct of some of those seeking the top seat.


“You should ask yourself if the person seeking the presidency is trustworthy or if he can be trusted with your future,” he said.


Gideon called on the church to continue prayin g for the nation, adding that as OKA, they were united and ready to support one of their own. His sentiments were echoed by Ford- Kenya leader Moses Wetangula, who said that they would backbone of the principals for the top seat.


“As One Kenya Alliance, we are united and shall walk as one team to the Gen- eral Election as we believe that we are the solution to the challenges facing Kenyans,” he said.

Mudavadi told the worshippers to ignore leaders who peddle hate speech and incitement in their campaigns.


“Next year is critical for the country. Every electorate should vote to fight graft, ethnicity, poverty and terrorism ,” he said. People Daily

The company, linked to US President Joe Biden's son Hunter, helped a Chinese company buy a cobalt mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in 2016, The New York Times reported.

According to the newspaper, in 2013, Hunter Biden with two other Americans participated in the creation of the investment firm BHR, which is registered in Shanghai. They got 30% of the shares in the company, and 70% went to Chinese investors, including Bank of China. 

In 2016, Biden's company was involved in the acquisition of the Tenke-Fungurume mine in the DRC by the Chinese firm China Molybdenum. BHR was involved in raising funds to buy back securities. Biden's company managed to raise more than $ 1 billion, and the Chinese firm received 80% of the shares of the world's largest cobalt mine. News am

Sources say Hamdok will be reinstalled after deal with military

Sudan’s main civilian coalition that had shared power with the military said on Sunday it does not recognize a deal to reinstate ousted Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok.

“We affirm our clear and previously announced position: no negotiation, no partnership and no legitimacy for the putchists,” the Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC) coalition said in a statement.

Two sources from the dissolved government earlier told Anadolu Agency that Hamdok will be reinstated, weeks after he was ousted by the military.

The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Hamdok met on Saturday night with the head of Sudan’s ruling military council, Gen. Abdul Fattah al-Burhan, and agreed on the return of the ousted premier and the release of all detainees.

The sources further disclosed that Hamdok will form a “technocrat Cabinet” with wide authorization and participation of the rebel movements that signed the Juba peace agreement.

The sources, however, said talks will be held between the army and all political groups in Sudan, except the former ruling party of ousted President Omar al-Bashir, in order to agree on other issues, including a review of the constitutional declaration outlining Sudan’s political transition.

On Oct. 25, al-Burhan declared a state of emergency and dissolved the transitional Sovereign Council and government amid rival protests and accusations between the military and politicians in the country.

Al-Burhan has insisted that the measures are meant to protect the country from “imminent danger” and accused those rejecting his move as “stirring chaos.”

Before the military takeover, Sudan was administered by a sovereign council of military and civilian officials which was overseeing the transition period until elections are held in 2023 as part of a precarious power-sharing pact between the military and the Unity of the Forces for Freedom and Change. Yeni Safak

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