A Kenyan journalist living in Nairobi. He publishes both locally and internationally on issues relating to human rights, good governance and democracy.
240 subjects with 124 messages.
Wafula
Import of second hand cloths is harming Kenya's textile industries
- 23 April 2007, By Evans Wafula Nairobi, Kenya. Kenya, one of the worlds leading exporter of textile and garment, has become an importing country of cheap and second hand clothing commonly known as Mitumba, The industry is beset by sagging sales and lack of an anti damping policy. The Kenyan fashion market has been dominated by cheap imports of foreign brands, whether produced by local manufacturers or imported. The market is facing a monopoly of cheap textile products from Southeast Asian countries, Middle East, Europe and the United States at a time when local textile industries and garment makers are on the verge of total bankruptcy caused by unmonitored transshipment of cheap products …Corruption boges Kenya’s tourism sector
- Helsinki-Thursday- A top Kenyan tourism official has been forced to resign after he was implicated in a 350,000 euros an equivalent to Kshs 35million corruption scandal facing the tourism sector. He is among senior bureaucrats who are under investigation for graft allegations, Kenya’s minister for Tourism Najib Balala said Thursday. Dr Achieng Ong’ong’a, head of Kenya's Tourism Board, handed over his resignation letter to the Tourism minister paving way for further investigation. He is accused of irregular payments of up to 35 million and flauting the Public Procurement and Disposal Act while awarding contracts. He is linked to a scheme of irregular pay offs to coma…Kenya’s senior tourism officials accused of corruption
- A top Kenyan tourism official has been forced to resign after he was implicated in a 350,000 euros an equivalent to Kshs 35million corruption scandal facing the tourism sector. He is among senior bureaucrats who are under investigation for graft allegations, Kenya’s minister for Tourism Najib Balala said Thursday. Dr Achieng Ong’ong’a, head of Kenya's Tourism Board, handed over his resignation letter to the Tourism minister paving way for further investigation. He is accused of irregular payments of up to 35 million and flauting the Public Procurement and Disposal Act while awarding contracts. He is linked to a scheme of irregular pay offs to comapnies associated to h…Kenya: Farmers cast doubt over GMO technology
- Across section of Small Scale Farmers in Kenya have warned aganist the passing of the Biodiversity Bill without consultation. Led by representatives of crop farmers, pastoralists and fisherfolk, the officials vowed to oppose any attempts to pass the Bill without considerable consultations with the stakeholders. "We are not opposed to GMOs, but they are a danger to food security and our indigenous gene pool" said Eluid Ngunjiri, Chairman of Participatory Ecological Land Use Management Association. According to officials, Patented GMO crops are likely to threaten the soil content directly affecting the farmers’ ability to save and share their indigenous seeds. Proponets of…An Integrated Prevention Demonstration launched in Kenya
- The United Nation goodwill ambassador for Malaria Yvonne Chaka chaka on Monday helped to unveil an integrated Prevention Demonstration Campaign in Western Kenya. The campaign “Integrated Prevention Demonstration” offers a new approach to combat malaria, diarrhoeal diseases and HIV/AIDS. Over 40,000 people will benefit from the campaign which provides basic care package consisting of a PermaNet® long-lasting insecticide-treated bed net, a LifeStraw® water purification tool, condoms and educational materials as encouragement for residents taking part in a voluntary HIV counseling and testing campaign. "We have conducted a number of other interventions through out Africa.…AIDS alarms experts in Africa
- In a space of three months, AIDS agencies in Africa have issued stern warnings painting a stark picture to the continents health sector. In Kenya, the KNACC has warned that HIV prevalence is still rising in most parts of the country, although prevalence rates remains stable in some regions, recent reports indicate that Kenya which has had the most successful national response to date reducing from over 15% prevalence to less than 6% with consistent national declines since the early 2000s is recording new cases of HIV placing the new prevalence rate at 11%. However, sporadic stabilized infection level trends often result from rising death rates from AIDS, which conceal a continuing high…UNHCR stops enrollment in Kakuma
- The United Nations refugee’s agency, UNHCR, has stopped enrolling students in to schools run by the agency in Kakuma refugee camp in northwestern Kenya. UNHCR spokesman Emmanuel Nyabera said the move is to encourage Sudanese refugees to return home. “We are encouraging people as much as possible to go back in the areas that are safe and part of that is cutting down school enrollment so that people can go back. However, sources at the camp accused the agency of secreatly engaging in forced repartriation of genuine students aganist their will and interfering with the learning system. Despite weeks of conflict that have threatened a three year comprehensive peace accord…New constitution which way for Kenya?
- We cannot have a new constitution with the leadership of president Kibaki. He is such an arrogant person, uncaring, incompetent and a none performer. It is now six years down the line with his promise of 90 days constutution making. Kenyans are willing to wait another leadership after Kibaki to make a new constitution. The current coalition government is a strategy for peace that is welcomed and not a solution to our democratic woes. Kibaki and Moi have failed Kenyans and they should await to be answerable to Kenyans when their true change dawnsGovernment must act tough on militias
- It was quite a surprise to see the prime minister Raila Odinga extend an olive branch to members of the Mungiki sect and call for dialogue with the sect’s leaders. Maina Njenga, the self-styled leader of an outlawed sect-Mungiki and its political wing the Kenya Youth Alliance Party (KENDA), was said to have met government officials at his prison cell in Naivasha to discuss ways of ending tension in the country. It is obvious that Maina Njenga who is serving a five year prison term at the Naivasha Maximum prison on charges of illegal possession of fire arms is not some kind of idealistic gang leader, according to the various sources on his background. In short, he is a politi…UNICEF accuses Zimbabwe of targeting children
- The United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) has accused Zimbabwe of systematically interfering with delivery of humanitarian relief to children and their families in areas affected by political violence. Zimbabwe’s politically-motivated violence has resulted in the displacement of at least 10,000 children in Zimbabwe, and destruction of hundreds of people’s homes. According to the UN agency, thousands of children have not returned to school after the 29 April restart of classes, and scores of others were caught in the violence. ZANU-PF has been accused of turning schools into centres of torture. The situation has been complicated by the recent mass return of thousands …Kenya army accused of torture and impunity
- On Friday the chief of the army defended the military aganist accussions for using torture during interrogation in the on-going operation in Mt. Elgon to flush out members of the Saboat Land Defense Force. The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights has accused the army for sanctioning the use of torture and other cruel techniques in the wake of an operation in the Mt Elgon area, saying that the military should be held accountable for buse of suspects. In his most extensive public comments about how the military conducted its operation in Mt. Elgon, and the subsequent arrests of suspects that followed, General Kianga insisted that the military acted proffesionally and as a result m…Kenyan-Finnish company offers hope to millions in Africa
- Universal Corporation Ltd of Kenya has joined the ranks of highly reputable durg companies in Africa after been certified under the European PIC/S scheme, the company hopes to recieve the WHO certification later in the year. Universal Corporation has succeeded in opening doors to several more African countries where drug imports are regulated. Its founders Pentti Keskitalo, Palu Dhanani and Raju Dhanani have expressed optimism that the company will meet its target of producing more affordable, quality drugs for African countries. The company was established by a Finnish engineer Pentti Keskitalo and two Kenyan citizens Palu and Raju Dhanani. Its PIC/S certification relates to Good Man…South Africa is burning its self again
- The events in South Africa are a direct fail by President Thabo Mbeki to resolve the bigger problem that threatens the region-the crisis in Zimbabwe. His ‘silent diplomacy’ towards the events in Zimbabwe are obviously to blame for the chaos being witnessed in the streets of Johannesburg. Mbeki has openly supported the dubious and anti-constitutional military power played by Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and his goons. In a whirlwind of most likely politically inspired gang violence, much resembling the aparthied era and reminiscent of the militias in Zimbabwe, immigrants from other African countries now find themselves targeted, hunted down, beaten up and even killed…Another Kenyan woman rises to fame
- Joining the ranks of Nobel laureat Proffessor Wangair Mathai, is Kenya’s own Dr. Miriam K. Were who has been named along side Britians Brian Greenwood as the prize winners of the prestigious Hideyo Nohuch Africa Prizes for outstanding accomplishement in the field of Medical resaech. The Government of Japan has confirmed the decision to award the inaugural Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prizes to Brian Greenwood for his innovative work on Malaria in Africa and Miriam K. Were for commitment to bring basic health rights to poor women and children in the villages of East Africa. Her work has been a beacon of hope for millions of people in Africa and the world. The laureates of each catego…l heard them cry for help as the media watched
- Under the patronage of a combination of bad governance, terrible politics and shocking neglect, Kenya became hell on earth following the desputed Decemebr 27 presidential polls. The country broke records. In a space of thirty days, up to one thousand five hundred men, women and children were murdered. The killing as followed, immediately by another three hundred and fifty thousands people being uprooted from their house, making it yet another biggest humaniterian crisis in Kenya. In the thick of all this, l witnessed how the media promoted tribal chauvinism and undermined national unity by editing messages of hate that were aired on radio stations and on the print media. Long before th…l heard them cry for help as the media watched
- Under the patronage of a combination of bad governance, terrible politics and shocking neglect, Kenya became hell on earth following the desputed Decemebr 27 presidential polls. The country broke records. In a space of thirty days, up to one thousand five hundred men, women and children were murdered. The killing as followed, immediately by another three hundred and fifty thousands people being uprooted from their house, making it yet another biggest humaniterian crisis in Kenya. In the thick of all this, l witnessed how the media promoted tribal chauvinism and undermined national unity by editing messages of hate that were aired on radio stations and on the print media. Long before th…Kenyan court orders the freez on Kabuga’s assets
- A court in Kenya has order the freeze of assets amounting to Ksh 50 million belonging to Rwandan genocide fugitive, Mr Felicien Kabuga. High Court Judge, Justice Muga Apondi, on Tuseday granted orders to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mr. Keriako Tobiko to procede and serve the Kabuga with notices of the intended procedings pending the mentioning of the case on July 29. Among the properties listed before the court are the Spanish Villas in Nairobi's upmarket Kilimani area which investigators believe jointly belong to Kabuga and his wife, Ms Mukazitoni Josephine. A report detailing the ownership of the properties points out that on January 26 Kenya Trust Company Ltd was a…Why Kenyans feare to dialogue
- What’s with Kenyans and dialogues? Passing through Amsterdam on my way to Helsinki last week, l used the stop over to talk to fellow Africans who were on transit from Africa about the much anticipated power-sharing deal in Kenya. I dwelt a great deal on the need for Kenyans to “dialogue”. I spoke of what had been said about Kenayans dialoguing and the feeling of of déjà vu. I pointed out that Kenyans had held public dialogues in 1998 and 2002 but these could not stop the country from plunging further into madness. So, what has changed now? l knew I had covered both the 1998 and 2002 Presidential elections, so I was aware that Kenyans actually come up with concrete…In Burundi it is No Nyangoma, No peace
- Burundi's opposition leaders has broken his silence and called for the resignation of the countries President Pierr Nkurunziza for abrogating the constitutional order in favor of his own cronies. After returning from self imposed exile on July 15, 2007, Mr. Leonard Nyangoma, the leader of CNDD, has renewed his warning aganist attacks targeted on opposition leaders. He appealed to the Forces for National Liberation (FNL) to remain committed to the talks despite attacks targeted to its leadership. The CNDD leader has animated through a source in Burundi that the government is rapidly loosing out touch with the realities in the country. After returning back to the country after a …A million men to face the knief in Kenya
- Despite political uncertanity that has engulfed Kenya following the disputed Dec 27 Presidential polls, the government has put a brave face and passed what has been viwed as one of its most controversal health policy. A new circumcision policy for men aimed at reducing HIV infection rates has been published by the Government making it compulsory for all willing men to undergo the cut. The policy, stipulating how all willing Kenyan men, irrespective of their age, culture or ethnic background will undergo circumcision. The traditional circumcision methods have also been challenged in the new policy. According to leading doctors and researchers at the Kenya National Aids Control Cou…The future for Zimbabwe matters to us all
- The reports coming out of Zimbabwe are not encouraging by am means. Leaders of the country's ruling ZANU-PF, it is reported, are moaning about plans to have foreign intervention in the current political impasse. These leaders are saying that the international should do more to ensure that the rerun of the March 29 Presidential election,which is supposed to start in the next few days, is free and fair. Their argument is that the international community is not qualified to decide on behalf of Zimbabweans future of their own country. According to the ZANU-PF, President Robert Mugabe is still their flag bearer despite having suffered a humiliating defeat in the closely contested pol…Kenya still tourist destination despite crisis
- The tourism sector has been badly hit by the conflict which has forced major tour operators to cancel their bookings. According to the KATO boss, despite what has happened in the last one week, the tourism sector has remaind operational and Kenya remains a favourable tourist destination. The sector has recorded huge losses in bed occupancy after the country was rocked with post election violence. However, tourists were not directly affected and the hotels continue to register bookings. This is the highest season in Kenya and efforts are underway to attract more tourists and help redeem the image of Kenya as a preferable tourist destination.See more videos on post-election Kenya and on …Who cares when Africa starves?
- Even as leaders and experts gathered in Brussels early this week to discuss the implications of global developement, Africa continues to be faced with new development challenges. This failed to take a centre stage during the talks that have just ended in Brussels between Belgian officials and the President of IFAD, Lennart Bage. In every way, Africa is projected to fare worst, with at least 75 million people in Africa facing increasing water shortages and lack of good quality water, according Bage. Bage was in Belgian to make a case before Government officials and to convience them on how they can consider innovative ways to tackle hunger and poverty in a rapidly changing world. …Its time for Kenya to lead by example
- It would be cruel for those who have visited Kenya to forget the beautiful landscape with all the different species of wild animals that once were a tourist attraction just because of the Dec 28 post-election violence. That election to mjority of Kenyans was certainly was a "mistake". All this may change again- and for the better I guess. Now the two protagonists have begun to walk on the path of reconciliation and nation building inorder to address the post-conflict period that had brought so much shame and pain to the people of this beautiful country of nearly thrity eight million. According to the latest figures released by Kenya's authorities, about 1200 people died in the confl…Cold War between China and West?
- Last November, l visited Japan as part of a United Nations University/Japan Foreign Press Center fellowship. While in Japan, l was delighted to learn about the upcoming TICAD meeting. The International Trade Confrenec for Africa's Developement. which will bring together heads of states from Africa to the city of Yokohama. According to the organizers of the event, the mayor of the city of Yokohama and the ministry of foreign affairs of Japan, the meeting will act a showcase for the G8 summit scheduled to take place in Osaka later in July. Every thing that has been happening to rally African leaders to the 'trade table' from Japan to Brussels. Ofcourse, this has been prompted …
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A Kenyan journalist living in Nairobi. He publishes both locally and internationally on issues relating to human rights, good governance and democracy.
240 subjects with 124 messages.
Wafula
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