An artisan paints a metal box outside Mr. Richard Owino’s workshop in Kamukunji, Nairobi //Photo: Teddy Baing’oni Preferred for its durability, affordability, and easy repair, Jua Kali products continue to stand out in the Kenyan market despite stiff competition from international imports, particularly from China. But how has the sector survived and thrived in such […]
According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), the county’s poverty level in 2022 was 39.8%. Additionally, the Kenya Institute of Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA) report of 2024 indicated a drop to 36.3%. Youths in Khalwenge Village, almost at the border of Kenya and Uganda, are not only grappling with high poverty
The idea of humanitarianism is as old as humanity itself. In the aftermath of war, famine, and disaster, communities have always risen to protect the vulnerable. Yet the institutionalisation of humanitarian action as we know it today traces its roots to 1863, when Henry Dunant’s account of the Battle of Solferino inspired the formation of
Some streets of Ghana, once dominated by commuters and hawkers, are now home to an increasing number of beggars, many from Niger, Sudan, Mali, and Chad. Their presence has sparked concerns over security, public health, and the welfare of children. At the bustling Kwame Nkrumah Circle, where thousands pass daily, I met several foreign beggars
Within just three days of its debut, Muna TV, a streaming platform dedicated entirely to African animation, recorded over 4,000 streams. This early interest points to a rising appetite for stories rooted in African culture told through animation, a medium that has long been overlooked on the continent. Muna TV provides a space for African
West Africa is facing an escalating textile pollution problem, fuelled largely by the global second-hand clothing trade. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the OR Foundation, tens of thousands of tonnes of used clothing arrive weekly at ports across the region, with a significant share landing in Ghana. Much of it is
It is a regular working day at the Standard Media Group bureau in Nakuru City, Kenya. On the third floor of the building along Kenyatta Avenue, the sound of traffic and boda bodas echoes from the street below. Inside the newsroom, the only sounds are the tapping of keyboards as journalists work on their assignments.
When Jacub Jahl arrived in Tanzania from the Czech Republic, he introduced himself as a passionate humanitarian determined to uplift vulnerable communities in the remote villages of Moshi. Promising to bring hope and opportunity, Jahl quickly gained the trust of local residents. But behind the facade of compassion was a far more sinister truth: he
West Pokot County, a vast semi-arid region in Kenya’s Rift Valley, continues to grapple with food insecurity and recurrent cattle rustling, which have significantly hindered school enrolment and attendance. According to the County Department of Children Services, approximately 40,000 children were out of school by 2023 due to hunger. In response to this crisis, Lishe
In a landmark move to strengthen urban climate resilience in East Africa, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) have jointly launched a multi-country initiative that integrates air quality data into climate adaptation planning across Nairobi, Kampala, and Addis Ababa. This initiative, unveiled during the Science-Policy Practitioner Dialogue held at
Over 25 African cities converged in Nairobi to champion clean air solutions in a powerful show of continental solidarity from July 15th-17th 2025 in an engaging forum. The three-day forum aimed at forging a united front in the fight against air pollution. The Clean Air Forum, held under the theme “Partnerships for Clean Air Solutions,”
