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Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Monday announced a “phased reopening” of the country, with the resumption of international flights from August 1 as well as the lifting of internal travel restrictions. The move comes as pressure mounts to kickstart the country’s ailing economy after nearly four months of coronavirus restrictions that have devastated key industries such as tourism. Kenyatta said in a televised address that “international air travel into and out of the territory of Kenya shall resume effective 1 August 2020.” He also announced the lifting of a ban on movement in and out of the capital Nairobi, the port city of Mombasa and northeastern Mandera. However, a curfew from 9pm to 4am will remain in place for another 30 days, effective immediately. Kenya has recorded 7,886 cases of the virus and 160 deaths — the highest official figures in East Africa — and has seen a steep increase in numbers in recent weeks. Fewer than 200,000 people have been tested in a population of 51 mi...

The National Nurses Association of Kenya (NNAK) has kicked off a campaign to celebrate the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife. Speaking in Nairobi Monday, NNAK President Alfred Obengo said the campaign is in line with the World Health Organization (WHO)’s declaration of 2020 as the year of the nurse and midwife. The celebration marks the 200th anniversary of the profession established by Englishwoman Florence Nightingale, who distinguished herself with selfless service for wounded British soldiers in the Crimean War. In addition to recognising Ms Nightingale’s achievements, the WHO designated the year to frontline health workers in a bid to celebrate the crucial role they play. Among the activities planned for the campaign are webinars, media interviews and direct engagements with the public. Mr Obengo noted that nurses and midwives are critical to the health sector as they are primary caregivers. “Nurses and midwives are a common feature in health facilities a...

Kenya is set to reopen its airspace for domestic flights, allow religious gatherings and inter-county tourism and travel in a bid to salvage its battered economy, even as the number of Covid-19 infections continue to rise sharply. President Uhuru Kenyatta promised to review the months-long Covid-19 lockdown measures that are supposed to lapse on July 6, ending more than three months of strict shutdowns of different sectors of the economy. "We will soon start domestic flights and this is what we will use as our trial in readiness for international travel over the next couple of days," said President Kenyatta last week, pointing to lifting of a ban on travel into and out of Nairobi and Mombasa, the country’s biggest cities. It is however not clear whether the 9pm to 4am countrywide curfew will be lifted. The reopening will be guided by protocols put in place in different sectors of the economy. The tourism sector, which has been hard-hit by the government-imposed re...

Kenya will leverage on robust economic and trade ties with China to hasten safe reopening of local enterprises after months of shutdown linked to COVID-19 pandemic, executives said on Wednesday. Jacqueline Mugo, executive director, Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE) said that China’s experience in post-COVID-19 economic reopening presents vital lessons to local businesses amid the quest to kick-start their operations. “Kenya is ready to learn from China and other countries that were initially affected by COVID-19 but are now in the process of reopening their businesses,” Mugo said during a virtual briefing whose theme is “considerations on business re-opening, the China and Norway experience” hosted by Kenya’s main employer’s lobby. Mugo acknowledged China’s contribution to Kenya’s anti-COVID-19 fight, adding that knowledge, expertise and technology from the Asian country can be applied locally to enhance smooth resumption of business activities. “We are focusing on increa...

coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, bringing the total tally of confirmed cases to 6,951 . Of the new cases,  259 are Kenyans while nine are foreigners. The youngest patient in the new case load is one years old and the oldest is 80. Health Chief Administrative Secretary Rashid Aman said Thursday that 20 patients have been discharged from health facilities in the last 24 hours, raising total recoveries to 2,109. Three more people have died from Covid-19, bringing total virus deaths in the country to 152. Nairobi reported 175 cases, 28 were recorded in Mombasa while Busia had 18. Other counties include, Kiambu (11), Kajiado (9), Migori (9), Uasin Gishu (8), Machakos (6), Narok (2), while Makueni and Murang’a had a case each.

Chief Justice David Maraga has insisted he will fight to the bitter end amid intensified efforts to push him out of office, ending speculations about his imminent resignation. In his address during the launch of the Electronic Filing Initiative at the Supreme Court Building in Nairobi, Mr Maraga pointed out that various guests spoke as if they were bidding him goodbye. “This is not my last event as CJ. I’ll still be around for a while. I’m not leaving today or tomorrow. You know a retiring judge takes terminal leave. For me that should be around November” the CJ said. Mr Maraga, who will attain the retirement age of 70 years in January next year, said he would retire once the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) officially writes to him asking that he goes on terminal leave pending his retirement. The CJ, a firm dispenser of justice, has been a pain to the Executive, which he has often accused of undermining judicial independence. Various stakeholders and Mr Maraga himself, ha...

St. Mary’s Mission Hospital is one of the structures marked for demolition in a Kenyan government move to repossess illegally acquired Ngong forest land. Since 2017, the hospital has been run by the Assumption Sisters of Nairobi, who won a six-year legal battle over its control. Before that, it was run by former Maryknoll Father William Fryda. “The issue of the hospital having been built on public forest land came up about five years ago, but since the matter was in court, it could not be resolved then. I think the church and the nuns are aware of it,” Father Joachim Omollo Ouko, an Apostle of Jesus priest who is familiar with the facility, told  Catholic News Service. On June 26, Keriako Tobiko, Kenya’s secretary for the environment, said the government would repossess all land held by illegal developers inside the forest where the hospital stands. “Except the areas that were lawfully degazetted, all other parcels of this forest whether people have titles or not, wheth...